Laser-accelerated protons: Perspectives for control/optimization of beam properties

M. Borghesi, C. A. Cecchetti, L. Romagnani, P. Antici, P. Audebert, J. Fuchs, E. D'Humieres, E. Brambrink, T. Toncian, A. Pipahl, O. Willi, E. Lefevbre

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The acceleration of high-energy ion beams (up to several tens of MeV per nucleon) following the interaction of short (t<1ps) and intense (Iλ2 > 1018Wcm-2μm2) laser pulses with solid targets has been one of the most active areas of research in the last few years. The exceptional properties of these beams (high brightness and high spectral cutoff, high directionality and laminarity, short burst duration) distinguish them from those of the lower energy ions accelerated in earlier experiments at moderate laser intensities. In view of these properties, laser-driven ion beams can be employed in a number of groundbreaking applications in the scientific, technological and medical areas. This paper reviews the current state-of-the-art, highlights recent developments and indicate future directions of this research area.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)590-599
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Modern Physics B
Volume21
Issue number3-4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Feb 2007

Keywords

  • High-intensity laser-matter interaction
  • Ion acceleration

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