BELLA iP2: The New High-Intensity Beamline at the BELLA PW

POSTER

Abstract

The new high-intensity iP2 beamline at the BELLA PW laser system enables frontier capabilities in High Energy Density Science (HEDS), including accessing exciting new regimes of ion acceleration. This system provides a focal spot of ~3 μm diameter, resulting in on-target peak intensities of > 5×1021 W/cm2. The high laser pulse repetition rate capability (up to 1 Hz), if paired with innovative, replenishable target systems, will increase the particle flux for applications and allows for the collection of large data sets, enabling adequate statistical analysis of the results. We foresee the implementation of a double plasma mirror to reach temporal contrast levels of 10­-14 or lower on nanosecond timescales before the main pulse. These capabilities uniquely enable a series of scheduled experiments to study advanced ion acceleration mechanisms, investigate fundamental plasma processes relevant for Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE), and develop innovative plasma-based technologies with societal benefits, such as in radiation therapy. The iP2 beamline is accessible to users through LaserNetUS.

*Funding acknowledgement: This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, Offices of Fusion Energy Science (FES), LaserNetUS, and High Energy Physics. S. Hakimi was supported by the U.S. DOE FES Postdoctoral Research Program administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) for the DOE. ORISE is managed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) under Contract No. DE-SC0014664.

Publication: 1) J. H. Bin, L. Obst-Huebl, J.-H. Mao, K. Nakamura, L. D. Geulig, H. Chang, Q. Ji, L. He, Z. Kober, A. J. Gonsalves, S. S. Bulanov, S. E. Celniker, C. B. Schroeder, C. G. R. Geddes, E. Esarey, B. A. Simmons, T. Schenkel, E. A. Blakely, S. Steinke, A. M. Snijders. "A new platform for ultra‑high dose rate radiobiological research using the BELLA PW laser proton beamline", Scientific Reports 12, 1585 (2022).
2) S. Hakimi, L. Obst-Huebl, A. Huebl, K. Nakamura, S. S. Bulanov, S. Steinke, W. P. Leemans, Z. Kober, T. M. Ostermayr, T. Schenkel, A. J. Gonsalves, J.-L. Vay, J. van Tilborg, C. Toth, C. B. Schroeder, E. Esarey, C. G. R. Geddes, "Laser-solid interaction studies enabled by the new capabilities of the iP2 BELLA PW beamline", accepted for publication at Phys. Plasmas (2022).
3) S. Steinke, J. H. Bin, J. Park, Q. Ji, K. Nakamura, A. J. Gonsalves, S. S. Bulanov, M. Thevenet, C. Toth, J. L. Vay, C. B. Schroeder, C. G. R. Geddes, E. Esarey, T. Schenkel, W. P. Leemans, "Acceleration of high charge ion beams with achromatic divergence by petawatt laser pulses," Phys. Rev. Accel. Beams 23, 021302 (2020).
4) L. D. Geulig, L. Obst-Huebl, K. Nakamura, J. H. Bin, Q. Ji, S. Steinke, A. J. Gonsalves, S. S. Bulanov, J. van Tilborg, C. B. Schroeder, C. G. R. Geddes, E. Esarey, T. Schenkel, A. Snijders, J.-H. Mao, E. Blakely, M. Roth, "Online Charge Measurement for Petawatt Laser-Driven Ion Acceleration", in review at Review of Scientific Instruments (2022) https://arxiv.org/abs/2205.01784
5) J. De Chant, K. Nakamura, Q. Ji, L. Obst-Huebl, S. Barber, A. Snijders, T. Schenkel, J. van Tilborg, C. G. R. Geddes, C. B. Schroeder, E. Esarey. "Design optimization of permanent-magnet based compact transport systems for laser-driven proton beams", APS Division of Plasma Physics Meeting, vol. 66, 2021. Manuscript in preparation for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.

Presenters

  • Lieselotte Obst-Huebl

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Authors

  • Lieselotte Obst-Huebl

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Kei Nakamura

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Sahel Hakimi

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    • ATAP, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

  • Stepan Bulanov

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    • LBL

  • Jared T De Chant

    • Michigan State University

  • Cameron R Geddes

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    • ATAP, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

  • Anthony J Gonsalves

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Axel Huebl

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Zachary Kober

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Tobias Ostermayr

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    • ATAP, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

  • Thomas Schenkel

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    • ATAP, Lawrence National Berkeley Lab

  • Carl B Schroeder

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Csaba Toth

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Jeroen V van Tilborg

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
    • ATAP, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab

  • Jean-Luc Vay

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Eric H Esarey

    • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory