Tabletop laser driven shock-ion acceleration in near-critical plasmas

An intense laser pulse interacting with near-critical density plasma can drive an electrostatic shock capable of accelerating quasi-monoenergetic, high-energy ion beams in the laboratory. Experimental plans using the T-cubed laser ($1.053 \; \mu \rm{m}$, 15 TW, 6 J in 400 fs) will be discussed. The target parameters requirements for this experiment are investigated using quasi-1D particle-in-cell simulations. To determine and optimize the formation of a shock and the subsequent proton beam acceleration, the simulation plasma scale lengths and density profiles were varied. The resulting electron heating, shock formation and proton acceleration will be presented and discussed.