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A laser-driven droplet source for plasma physics applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 September 2020

Bastian Aurand Open the ORCID record for Bastian Aurand [Opens in a new window] ,
Esin Aktan ,
Kerstin Maria Schwind ,
Rajendra Prasad ,
Mirela Cerchez ,
Toma Toncian  and
Oswald Willi
Bastian Aurand*
Affiliation:
Institut für Laser- und Plasmaphysik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, D-40225Düsseldorf, Germany
Esin Aktan
Affiliation:
Institut für Laser- und Plasmaphysik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, D-40225Düsseldorf, Germany
Kerstin Maria Schwind
Affiliation:
Institut für Laser- und Plasmaphysik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, D-40225Düsseldorf, Germany
Rajendra Prasad
Affiliation:
Institut für Laser- und Plasmaphysik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, D-40225Düsseldorf, Germany
Mirela Cerchez
Affiliation:
Institut für Laser- und Plasmaphysik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, D-40225Düsseldorf, Germany
Toma Toncian
Affiliation:
Institute for Radiation Physics, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01328Dresden, Germany
Oswald Willi
Affiliation:
Institut für Laser- und Plasmaphysik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, D-40225Düsseldorf, Germany
*
Author for correspondence: B. Aurand, Institut für Laser- und Plasmaphysik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. E-mail: bastian.aurand@hhu.de
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Abstract

In this paper, we report on the acceleration of protons and oxygen ions from tens of micrometer large water droplets by a high-intensity laser in the range of 1020 W/cm2. Proton energies of up to 6 MeV were obtained from a hybrid acceleration regime between classical Coulomb explosion and shocks. Besides the known thermal energy spectrum, a collective acceleration of oxygen ions of different charge states is observed. 3D PIC simulations and analytical models are employed to support the experiential findings and reveal the potential for further applications and studies.

Keywords

Laser-plasma acceleration of electrons and ionsplasma production and heating by laser beams
Type
Research Article
Information
Laser and Particle Beams , Volume 38 , Issue 4 , December 2020 , pp. 214 - 221
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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