Proton deflectometry of laser-driven relativistic electron jet from thin foil target

Near critical density relativistic electron jets from laser solid interaction carry currents approaching the Alfvén-limit and tens of kilo-Tesla magnetic fields. Such jets are often found in kinetic simulations with low areal density targets, but have not been confirmed experimentally. They may be used for X/gamma-ray generation and is also important for the understanding of post-transparency plasma dynamics. With a short-pulse probe beam at the Trident laser facility, we employed proton deflectometry to infer the jet’s properties, structure and the long-time dynamics. We develop corresponding GEANT4 simulation model of the proton deflectometry, with input from the kinetic PIC simulations in 2D and quasi-3D geometry, to compare with the experimental radiography images. Detail comparison of the experimental and simulation features in the deflectometry will be discussed.