Editorial

2 pages, 176 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Laser-Driven Accelerators, Radiations, and Their Applications

by Hyung Taek Kim and Daniele Margarone

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(7), 3662; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12073662 - 05 Apr 2022

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Particle accelerators and radiation based on radio-frequency (RF) cavities have significantly contributed to the advancement of science and technology in the last century [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Driven Accelerators, Radiations, and Their Applications)

Research

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7 pages, 2403 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

In-Target Proton–Boron Nuclear Fusion Using a PW-Class Laser

by Daniele Margarone, Julien Bonvalet, Lorenzo Giuffrida, Alessio Morace, Vasiliki Kantarelou, Marco Tosca, Didier Raffestin, Philippe Nicolai, Antonino Picciotto, Yuki Abe, Yasunobu Arikawa, Shinsuke Fujioka, Yuji Fukuda, Yasuhiro Kuramitsu, Hideaki Habara and Dimitri Batani

Appl. Sci. 2022, 12(3), 1444; https://doi.org/10.3390/app12031444 - 28 Jan 2022

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 22777

Abstract

Nuclear reactions between protons and boron-11 nuclei (p–B fusion) that were used to yield energetic α-particles were initiated in a plasma that was generated by the interaction between a PW-class laser operating at relativistic intensities (~3 × 10¹⁹ W/cm²) and [...] Read more.

Nuclear reactions between protons and boron-11 nuclei (p–B fusion) that were used to yield energetic α-particles were initiated in a plasma that was generated by the interaction between a PW-class laser operating at relativistic intensities (~3 × 10¹⁹ W/cm²) and a 0.2-mm thick boron nitride (BN) target. A high p–B fusion reaction rate and hence, a large α-particle flux was generated and measured, thanks to a proton stream accelerated at the target’s front surface. This was the first proof of principle experiment to demonstrate the efficient generation of α-particles (~10¹⁰/sr) through p–B fusion reactions using a PW-class laser in the “in-target” geometry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Driven Accelerators, Radiations, and Their Applications)

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11 pages, 1597 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dosimetric Optimization of a Laser-Driven Irradiation Facility Using the G4-ELIMED Application

by Sergio Mingo Barba, Francesco Schillaci, Roberto Catalano, Giada Petringa, Daniele Margarone and Giuseppe Antonio Pablo Cirrone

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(21), 9823; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11219823 - 20 Oct 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1628

Abstract

ELIMED has been developed and installed at ELI beamlines as a part of the ELIMAIA beamline to transport, monitor, and use laser-driven ion beams suitable for multidisciplinary applications, including biomedical ones. This paper aims to investigate the feasibility to perform radiobiological experiments using [...] Read more.

ELIMED has been developed and installed at ELI beamlines as a part of the ELIMAIA beamline to transport, monitor, and use laser-driven ion beams suitable for multidisciplinary applications, including biomedical ones. This paper aims to investigate the feasibility to perform radiobiological experiments using laser-accelerated proton beams with intermediate energies (up to 30 MeV). To reach this goal, we simulate a proton source based on experimental data like the ones expected to be available in the first phase of ELIMED commissioning by using the G4-ELIMED application (an application based on the Geant4 toolkit that simulates the full ELIMED beamline). This allows the study of transmission efficiency and the final characteristics of the proton beam at the sample irradiation point. The Energy Selector System is used as an active energy modulator to obtain the desired beam features in a relatively short irradiation time (around 6 min). Furthermore, we demonstrate the capability of the beamline to filter out other ion contaminants, typically co-accelerated in a laser-plasma environment. These results can be considered as a detailed feasibility study for the use of ELIMED for various user applications such as radiobiological experiments with ultrahigh dose rate proton beams. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Driven Accelerators, Radiations, and Their Applications)

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12 pages, 1870 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spectroscopic Studies of Laser-Based Far-Ultraviolet Plasma Light Source

by Majid Masnavi and Martin Richardson

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(15), 6919; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11156919 - 27 Jul 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2704

Abstract

A series of experiments is described which were conducted to measure the absolute spectral irradiances of laser plasmas created from metal targets over the wavelength region of 123–164 nm by two separate 1.0 μm lasers, i.e., using 100 Hz, 10 ns, 2–20 kHz, [...] Read more.

A series of experiments is described which were conducted to measure the absolute spectral irradiances of laser plasmas created from metal targets over the wavelength region of 123–164 nm by two separate 1.0 μm lasers, i.e., using 100 Hz, 10 ns, 2–20 kHz, 60–100 ns full-width-at-half-maximum pulses. A maximum radiation conversion efficiency of ≈3%/2

π

sr is measured over a wavelength region from ≈125 to 160 nm. A developed collisional-radiative solver and radiation-hydrodynamics simulations in comparison to the spectra detected by the Seya–Namioka-type monochromator reveal the strong broadband experimental radiations which mainly originate from bound–bound transitions of low-ionized charges superimposed on a strong continuum from a dense plasma with an electron temperature of less than 10 eV. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Driven Accelerators, Radiations, and Their Applications)

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12 pages, 2757 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Few MeV Laser-Plasma Accelerated Proton Beam in Air Collimated Using Compact Permanent Quadrupole Magnets

by Fernando Brandi, Luca Labate, Daniele Palla, Sanjeev Kumar, Lorenzo Fulgentini, Petra Koester, Federica Baffigi, Massimo Chiari, Daniele Panetta and Leonida Antonio Gizzi

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(14), 6358; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11146358 - 09 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2751

Abstract

Proton laser-plasma-based acceleration has nowadays achieved a substantial maturity allowing to seek for possible practical applications, as for example Particle Induced X-ray Emission with few MeV protons. Here we report about the design, implementation, and characterization of a few MeV laser-plasma-accelerated proton beamline [...] Read more.

Proton laser-plasma-based acceleration has nowadays achieved a substantial maturity allowing to seek for possible practical applications, as for example Particle Induced X-ray Emission with few MeV protons. Here we report about the design, implementation, and characterization of a few MeV laser-plasma-accelerated proton beamline in air using a compact and cost-effective beam transport line based on permanent quadrupole magnets. The magnetic beamline coupled with a laser-plasma source based on a 14-TW laser results in a well-collimated proton beam of about 10 mm in diameter propagating in air over a few cm distance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Driven Accelerators, Radiations, and Their Applications)

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8 pages, 2543 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optically Switchable MeV Ion/Electron Accelerator

by Itamar Cohen, Yonatan Gershuni, Michal Elkind, Guy Azouz, Assaf Levanon and Ishay Pomerantz

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(12), 5424; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11125424 - 10 Jun 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2250

Abstract

The versatility of laser accelerators in generating particle beams of various types is often promoted as a key applicative advantage. These multiple types of particles, however, are generated on vastly different irradiation setups, so that switching from one type to another involves substantial [...] Read more.

The versatility of laser accelerators in generating particle beams of various types is often promoted as a key applicative advantage. These multiple types of particles, however, are generated on vastly different irradiation setups, so that switching from one type to another involves substantial mechanical changes. In this letter, we report on a laser-based accelerator that generates beams of either multi-MeV electrons or ions from the same thin-foil irradiation setup. Switching from generation of ions to electrons is achieved by introducing an auxiliary laser pulse, which pre-explodes the foil tens of ns before irradiation by the main pulse. We present an experimental characterization of the emitted beams in terms of energy, charge, divergence, and repeatability, and conclude with several examples of prospective applications for industry and research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Driven Accelerators, Radiations, and Their Applications)

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8 pages, 4572 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Distortion of Thomson Parabolic-Like Proton Patterns Due to Electromagnetic Interference

by Filip Grepl, Josef Krása, Andriy Velyhan, Massimo De Marco, Jan Dostál, Miroslav Pfeifer and Daniele Margarone

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4484; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11104484 - 14 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1855

Abstract

Intense electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) accompany the production of plasma when a high-intensity laser irradiates a solid target. The EMP occurs both during and long after the end of the laser pulse (up to hundreds of nanoseconds) within and outside the interaction chamber, and [...] Read more.

Intense electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) accompany the production of plasma when a high-intensity laser irradiates a solid target. The EMP occurs both during and long after the end of the laser pulse (up to hundreds of nanoseconds) within and outside the interaction chamber, and interferes with nearby electronics, which may lead to the disruption or malfunction of plasma diagnostic devices. This contribution reports a correlation between the frequency spectrum of the EMP and the distortion of Thomson parabola tracks of protons observed at the kJ-class PALS laser facility in Prague. EMP emission was recorded using a simple flat antenna. Ions accelerated from the front side of the target were simultaneously detected by a Thomson parabola ion spectrometer. The comparison of the two signals suggests that the EMP may be considered to be the source of parabolic track distortion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Driven Accelerators, Radiations, and Their Applications)

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13 pages, 3229 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Automation of Target Delivery and Diagnostic Systems for High Repetition Rate Laser-Plasma Acceleration

by Timofej Chagovets, Stanislav Stanček, Lorenzo Giuffrida, Andriy Velyhan, Maksym Tryus, Filip Grepl, Valeriia Istokskaia, Vasiliki Kantarelou, Tuomas Wiste, Juan Carlos Hernandez Martin, Francesco Schillaci and Daniele Margarone

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(4), 1680; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041680 - 13 Feb 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2458

Abstract

Fast solid target delivery and plasma-ion detection systems have been designed and developed to be used in high intensity laser-matter interaction experiments. We report on recent progress in the development and testing of automated systems to refresh solid targets at a high repetition [...] Read more.

Fast solid target delivery and plasma-ion detection systems have been designed and developed to be used in high intensity laser-matter interaction experiments. We report on recent progress in the development and testing of automated systems to refresh solid targets at a high repetition rate during high peak power laser operation (>1 Hz), along with ion diagnostics and corresponding data collection and real-time analysis methods implemented for future use in a plasma-based ion acceleration beamline for multidisciplinary user applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Driven Accelerators, Radiations, and Their Applications)

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11 pages, 1568 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Monte Carlo Study of Imaging Plate Response to Laser-Driven Aluminum Ion Beams

by Junho Won, Jaehyeon Song, Sasi Palaniyappan, Donald Cort Gautier, Wonhee Jeong, Juan Carlos Fernández and Woosuk Bang

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(2), 820; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11020820 - 16 Jan 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2313

Abstract

We measured the response of BAS-TR imaging plate (IP) to energetic aluminum ions up to 222 MeV, and compared it with predictions from a Monte Carlo simulation code using two different IP response models. Energetic aluminum ions were produced with an intense laser [...] Read more.

We measured the response of BAS-TR imaging plate (IP) to energetic aluminum ions up to 222 MeV, and compared it with predictions from a Monte Carlo simulation code using two different IP response models. Energetic aluminum ions were produced with an intense laser pulse, and the response was evaluated from cross-calibration between CR-39 track detector and IP energy spectrometer. For the first time, we obtained the response function of the BAS-TR IP for aluminum ions with a kinetic energy as high as 222 MeV. On close examination of the two IP response models, we confirm that the exponential model fits our experimental data better. Moreover, we find that the IP sensitivity in the exponential model is nearly constant in this energy range, suggesting that the response function can be determined even with little experimental data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Driven Accelerators, Radiations, and Their Applications)

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14 pages, 3327 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Angular Spectral Distributions of Laser Accelerated Particles for Simulation of Radiation Dose Map in Target Normal Sheath Acceleration Regime of High Power Laser-Thin Solid Target Interaction—Comparison with Experiments

by Andreea Groza, Alecsandru Chirosca, Elena Stancu, Bogdan Butoi, Mihai Serbanescu, Dragana B. Dreghici and Mihai Ganciu

Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(12), 4390; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10124390 - 26 Jun 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2860

Abstract

An adequate simulation model has been used for the calculation of angular and energy distributions of electrons, protons, and photons emitted during a high-power laser, 5-µm thick Ag target interaction. Their energy spectra and fluencies have been calculated between 0 and 360 degrees [...] Read more.

An adequate simulation model has been used for the calculation of angular and energy distributions of electrons, protons, and photons emitted during a high-power laser, 5-µm thick Ag target interaction. Their energy spectra and fluencies have been calculated between 0 and 360 degrees around the interaction point with a step angle of five degrees. Thus, the contribution of each ionizing species to the total fluency value has been established. Considering the geometry of the experimental set-up, a map of the radiation dose inside the target vacuum chamber has been simulated, using the Geant4 General Particle Source code, and further compared with the experimental one. Maximum values of the measured dose of the order of tens of mGy per laser shot have been obtained in the direction normal to the target at about 30 cm from the interaction point. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Driven Accelerators, Radiations, and Their Applications)

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Review

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12 pages, 2585 KiB

Open AccessReview

Multi-GeV Laser Wakefield Electron Acceleration with PW Lasers

by Hyung Taek Kim, Vishwa Bandhu Pathak, Calin Ioan Hojbota, Mohammad Mirzaie, Ki Hong Pae, Chul Min Kim, Jin Woo Yoon, Jae Hee Sung and Seong Ku Lee

Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(13), 5831; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11135831 - 23 Jun 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3437

Abstract

Laser wakefield electron acceleration (LWFA) is an emerging technology for the next generation of electron accelerators. As intense laser technology has rapidly developed, LWFA has overcome its limitations and has proven its possibilities to facilitate compact high-energy electron beams. Since high-power lasers reach [...] Read more.

Laser wakefield electron acceleration (LWFA) is an emerging technology for the next generation of electron accelerators. As intense laser technology has rapidly developed, LWFA has overcome its limitations and has proven its possibilities to facilitate compact high-energy electron beams. Since high-power lasers reach peak power beyond petawatts (PW), LWFA has a new chance to explore the multi-GeV energy regime. In this article, we review the recent development of multi-GeV electron acceleration with PW lasers and discuss the limitations and perspectives of the LWFA with high-power lasers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Laser-Driven Accelerators, Radiations, and Their Applications)

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