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Multi-PW laser-driven proton acceleration using a plasma-lens target
Vojtěch Horný1,2, Domenico Doria3
1Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics, IFIN-HH, 30 Reactorului Street, 077125, Magurele, Romania. vojtech.horny@eli-np.ro.
Scientific Reports
|December 6, 2025
Summary
State-of-the-art lasers and a double-layer target achieve 550 MeV proton acceleration. Optimized carbon and plastic layers enhance hole boring and light sail mechanisms for efficient particle acceleration.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Laser-Induced Phenomena
Background:
- Laser-driven particle acceleration is crucial for various applications.
- Optimizing target designs is key to enhancing acceleration efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate advanced laser-driven proton acceleration using a novel double-layer target.
- To optimize target parameters for maximum proton energy and acceleration efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multi-petawatt laser technology.
- Employed a double-layer target: homogenised near-critical density carbon front layer and a solid plastic rear layer.
- Conducted fully resolved 3D particle-in-cell simulations.
Main Results:
- Achieved proton acceleration up to 550 MeV.
- Identified hole boring and light sail radiation pressure acceleration as dominant mechanisms.
- Observed enhanced target normal sheath acceleration due to increased laser-to-electron coupling.
- Generated gamma-ray radiation via nonlinear inverse Compton scattering.
Conclusions:
- The double-layer target design significantly enhances proton acceleration efficiency.
- Synergistic interplay of acceleration mechanisms, driven by optimized target parameters, leads to high-energy protons.
- Advanced simulation techniques provide deep insights into complex laser-plasma interactions.
