Session XO6: Ultraintense Lasers and Particle Generation
9:30 AM–12:18 PM, Friday, November 12, 2010
Room: Columbus GH
Chair: Ronnie Shepherd, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Abstract ID: BAPS.2010.DPP.XO6.2
Abstract: XO6.00002 : Above-60-MeV proton acceleration with a 150 TW laser system
9:42 AM–9:54 AM
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Abstract 
Authors:
M. Schollmeier
(Sandia National Laboratories)
M. Geissel
(Sandia National Laboratories)
A.B. Sefkow
(Sandia National Laboratories)
P. Rambo
(Sandia National Laboratories)
J. Schwarz
(Sandia National Laboratories)
B.W. Atherton
(Sandia National Laboratories)
Laser-accelerated proton beams can be used in a variety of applications, e.g. ultrafast radiography of dense objects or strong electromagnetic fields. Therefore high energies of tens of MeV are required. We report on proton-acceleration experiments with a 150 TW laser system using mm-sized thin foils and mass-reduced targets of various thicknesses. Thin- foil targets yielded maximum energies of 50 MeV. A further reduction of the target dimensions from mm-size to 250 $\times$250$\times$25 microns increased the maximum proton energy to $>$65 MeV, which is comparable to proton energies measured only at higher-energy, Petawatt-class laser systems. The dependence of the maximum energy on target dimensions was investigated, and differences between mm-sized thin foils and mass-reduced targets will be reported.
To cite this abstract, use the following reference: http://meetings.aps.org/link/BAPS.2010.DPP.XO6.2