Evaluating new PROton Beam Imager and Energy Spectrometer (PROBIES) configurations for higher spatial and spectral resolution diagnosis of laser-driven proton sources*

High-intensity (>10¹⁸ W/cm²) lasers can be used to generate energetic proton sources via the Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA) mechanism. The PROton Beam Imager and Energy Spectrometer (PROBIES) [D. Mariscal et al., PPCF 2021] uses a stepped filter design to diagnose these sources by providing simultaneous energy and spatial information in a compact form-factor. PROBIES can be fielded with radiochromic film (RCF) stacks to achieve higher energy resolution and larger bandwidths or with a scintillator to provide data for each shot at a high laser repetition rate (>1 Hz). Here we present developments in the methodology for the design and interpretation of PROBIES data by including detailed calculations of proton transport and scattering. This work discusses the deconvolution of the proton beam from PROBIES data used in an RCF stack to characterize high energy, high divergence proton beams generated at OMEGA EP.