Proton acceleration from targets irradiated by ultraintense high-contrast laser pulses in the SOKOL-P facility

Abstract

Results of experiments on proton acceleration from aluminum foils and organic films irradiated by laser pulses with intensities of up to 2 × 1019 W/cm2 are presented. To prevent thin targets from destruction by the superluminescence prepulse, a fast light shutter based on a Pockels cell was introduced in the amplifying system of the SOKOL-P facility. As a result, the energy contrast with respect to the superluminescence prepulse increased to 4 × 106, which made it possible to carry out experiments on the irradiation of targets with thicknesses less than 100 nm. It is found that the target material insignificantly affects the yield of accelerated protons.