Plasma Physics Seminar ( Phys 769)

Dr. Bengt Eliasson, Ruhr University Bochum Monoenergetic Proton Acceleration by Intense Laser Beams We present theoretical and numerical studies of the acceleration of monoenergetic protons by the laser irradiation of an ultra-thin film. The ponderomotive force of the laser light pushes the electrons forward, and the induced space charge electric field pulls the ions and makes the thin foil accelerate as a whole. The ions trapped by the combined electric field and inertial force in the accelerated frame, together with the electrons trapped in the well of the ponderomotive and ion electric field, form a stable double layer. The trapped ions are accelerated to monoenergetic energies up to 100 MeV and beyond. The medical applications of our results are briefly discussed. Return to main page