Preprint

GSI-2023-00978

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Collisionless Shock Acceleration of protons in a plasma slab produced in a gas jet by the collision of two laser-driven hydrodynamic shockwaves

Marquès, J. -. ; Lancia, L. ; Loiseau, P. ; Forestier-Colleoni, P. ; Tarisien, M. ; Atukpor, E. ; Bagnoud, V.GSI* ; Brabetz, C.GSI* ; Consoli, F. ; Domange, J. ; Hannachi, F. ; Nicolaï, P. ; Salvadori, M. ; Zielbauer, B.GSI*

2023
arXiv

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.48550/ARXIV.2309.16277

Abstract: We recently proposed a new technique of plasma tailoring by laser-driven hydrodynamic shockwaves generated on both sides of a gas jet [J.-R. Marquès et al., Phys. Plasmas 28, 023103 (2021)]. In the continuation of this numerical work, we studied experimentally the influence of the tailoring on proton acceleration driven by a high-intensity picosecond-laser, in three cases: without tailoring, by tailoring only the entrance side of the ps-laser, or both sides of the gas jet. Without tailoring the acceleration is transverse to the laser axis, with a low-energy exponential spectrum, produced by Coulomb explosion. When the front side of the gas jet is tailored, a forward acceleration appears, that is significantly enhanced when both the front and back sides of the plasma are tailored. This forward acceleration produces higher energy protons, with a peaked spectrum, and is in good agreement with the mechanism of Collisionless Shock Acceleration (CSA). The spatio-temporal evolution of the plasma profile was characterized by optical shadowgraphy of a probe beam. The refraction and absorption of this beam was simulated by post-processing 3D hydrodynamic simulations of the plasma tailoring. Comparison with the experimental results allowed to estimate the thickness and near-critical density of the plasma slab produced by tailoring both sides of the gas jet. These parameters are in good agreement with those required for CSA.

Keyword(s): Plasma Physics (physics.plasm-ph) ; Accelerator Physics (physics.acc-ph) ; FOS: Physical sciences

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Plasmaphysik / PHELIX (PPH)

Research Program(s):

1. 631 - Matter – Dynamics, Mechanisms and Control (POF4-631) (POF4-631)

Experiment(s):

1. P189: Proton acceleration from laser shaped overcritical gas jets (POF3-6211; PTA)

Appears in the scientific report 2023

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Database coverage:
Published

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Linked articles:

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Journal Article Marquès, J.-R. (Corresponding author) ; Lancia, L. ; Loiseau, P. ; Forestier-Colleoni, P. ; Tarisien, M. ; Atukpor, E. ; Bagnoud, V.GSI* ; Brabetz, C.GSI* ; Consoli, F. ; Domange, J. ; Hannachi, F. ; Nicolaï, P. ; Salvadori, M. ; Zielbauer, B.GSI*
Collisionless shock acceleration of protons in a plasma slab produced in a gas jet by the collision of two laser-driven hydrodynamic shockwaves
Matter and radiation at extremes 9(2), 024001 (2024) [10.1063/5.0178253]2024   Files BibTeX | EndNote: XML, Text | RIS

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