40 MeV proton beam generation with ultra-high intensity high-contrast Ti:Sap laser system

Nishiuchi, Mamiko; Pirozhkov, A. S.; Ogura, Koichi; Tanimoto, Tsuyoshi*; Sakaki, Hironao; Esirkepov, T. Z.; Yogo, Akifumi; Fukuda, Yuji; Kanasaki, Masato; Sagisaka, Akito; Bulanov, S. V.; Bolton, P.; Kondo, Kiminori

Since the first observation of the energetic ion beam from the interaction between the Ultra-high intensity short pulse and solid density target, many experimental efforts have been extensively made in all over the world in order to extend the maximum energy of ions. In the past decade, the highest ion energy recorded is 67.5 MeV for the ps laser pulse from the building size single shot operation system and 25 MeV for the compact Ti:Sapphire laser system which can deliver repetitive sub-ps laser pulses. Here in this paper we present the extension of the maximum energy of protons from the interaction between the short-pulse compact laser system and soild thin-foil target. The laser parameters are 800 nm in wavelength, 40 fs of pulse width, 8 J of energy, 10 contrast and 3m 4m (FWHM) of focal spot. The achieved peak intensity is increased up to 10Wcm, which is also well confirmed by the measured electron temperature of 16 MeV.