Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 29, 2026
06:40
Automated Delivery of Microfabricated Targets for Intense Laser Irradiation Experiments
Published on: January 28, 2021
4.8K
Micrometer-sized negative-ion accelerator based on ultrashort laser pulse interaction with transparent solids
S Bagchi1, M Tayyab1, B Ramakrishna1
1Laser Plasma Division, Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore 452 013, India.
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
|December 15, 2015
Summary
Researchers generated energetic negative hydrogen ions (H-) using ultrashort laser pulses interacting with solid hydrogen targets. This breakthrough offers a new, high-repetition-rate source for negative ions, crucial for diverse scientific applications.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Laser-Matter Interactions
Background:
- Negative hydrogen ions (H-) are crucial for various applications, including fusion energy and particle accelerators.
- Existing methods for H- generation often face limitations in intensity, repetition rate, or target requirements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the generation of energetic negative hydrogen ions (H-) using ultrashort laser pulses.
- To develop a novel, high-repetition-rate source of H- ions based on laser-solid interactions.
Main Methods:
- Interaction of intense (10^18 W cm^-2), ultrashort (45 fs) laser pulses with transparent solid hydrogen-containing targets.
- Detection and characterization of generated negative hydrogen ions using a Thomson parabola ion spectrograph.
Main Results:
- Consistent detection of energetic (>100 keV) negative hydrogen ions (H-) with a flux of 8x10^11 H- ions/sr.
- Experimental observations were well-matched by simple estimates based on charge transfer cross sections.
Conclusions:
- Ultrashort laser pulses interacting with solid hydrogen targets provide an effective method for generating energetic H- ions.
- This technique presents a promising avenue for developing intense, high-repetition-rate negative ion sources for scientific and technological applications.
