Cluster-gas targets as efficient media for laser-driven ion accelerations

Fukuda, Yuji; Matsui, Ryutaro*; Iwata, Natsuyo*; Kishimoto, Yasuaki

The recent advancements of novel laser-driven ion acceleration techniques now allow and even exceed the maximum energy of ions up to several tens of MeV. For example, substantial enhancement of the accelerated ion energies has been demonstrated by utilizing a unique property of a cluster-gas target. In order to investigate the underlying physical mechanism of high power laser interaction with cluster medium, we have performed simulations using EPIC3D (Extended Particle based Integrated Code). We found that the synergetic interplay of different mechanisms could play an important role in realizing the particle acceleration observed in the experiments. More interestingly, in laser intensities of a relativistic ion regime, a new mechanism of ion acceleration can be incorporated with the Coulomb explosion.