5.5-7.5 MeV Proton generation by a moderate intensity ultra-short laser interaction with H2O nano-wire targets

Abstract

We report on the first generation of 5.5-7.5 MeV protons by a moderate intensity short-pulse laser (4.5 \times 1017 W/cm^2, 50 fsec) interacting with H2O nano-wires (snow) deposited on a Sapphire substrate. In this setup, the laser intensity is locally enhanced by the tip of the snow nano-wire, leading to high spatial gradients. Accordingly, the plasma near the tip is subject to enhanced ponderomotive potential, and confined charge separation is obtained. Electrostatic fields of extremely high intensities are produced over the short scale length, and protons are accelerated to MeV-level energies.

submitted to PRL, under press embargo. 6 figures

References in corpus (1)

• Efficient ion acceleration by collective laser-driven electron dynamics with ultra-thin foil targets

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Ion acceleration by superintense laser-plasma interaction
• Evidence of resonant surface wave excitation in the relativistic regime through measurements of proton acceleration from grating targets
• Enhanced Proton Acceleration by an Ultrashort Laser Interaction with Structured Dynamic Plasma Targets
• Table-top laser-based proton acceleration in nanostructured targets
• Dual-pulse micronozzle acceleration of sub-GeV-class protons