Laser Radiation Pressure Acceleration of Ions by a Slow Electromagnetic Wave and Ion Beam Instabilities

ORAL

Abstract

When the radiation pressure of a laser pulse accelerates the ions in a plasma, the ion velocity cannot exceed the pulse group velocity, which can be considerably smaller than the speed of light in vacuum. This is demonstrated in two cases: (1) a thin foil target irradiated by high intensity laser light and (2) the hole boring produced in an extended plasma by a laser pulse that is accompanied by the formation of a collisionless shock wave. It is found that the beams of ions accelerated at the collisionless shock wave front are unstable against Buneman-like and Weibel-like instabilities, which result in the broadening of the ion energy spectrum.

*We appreciate support from the NSF under Grant No. PHY-0935197 and the US DOE under Contracts No. DE-AC02-05CH11231 and No. DE-FG02-12ER41798.

–

Authors

  • S.S. Bulanov

    • University of California, Berkeley, CA

  • C.G.R. Geddes

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA

  • C.B. Schroeder

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA

  • E. Esarey

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA

  • W.P. Leemans

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA

  • S.V. Bulanov

    • QuBS, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kizugawa, Kyoto, Japan

  • T. Zh. Esirkepov

    • QuBS, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kizugawa, Kyoto, Japan

  • M. Kando

    • QuBS, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kizugawa, Kyoto, Japan

  • F. Pegoraro

    • University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy