Effects of parameters on the proton focusing driven by Coulomb explosion

• Published in: High energy density physics Vol. 32; pp. 77 - 81
• Main Authors: Wang, W.Q., Yin, Y., Zou, D.B., Yu, T.P., Xu, H., Shao, F.Q.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-07-2019
• ISSN: 1574-1818; 1878-0563
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hedp.2019.06.003

The effects of laser and plasma parameters on the proton focusing driven by Coulomb explosion in the interaction of a laser pulse with a thin arched carbon-hydrogen target are investigated by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The influence of the laser polarization, the laser spot size and the geometrical dimension of the arched target has been examined. It is shown that a linearly-polarized laser pulse contributes to the occurrence of the Coulomb explosion in a shorter time, and a larger focal spot is advantageous to produce a homogeneous Coulomb field. The geometrical property of the arched target and the buffer action of heavy ions are appropriate for the forward proton focusing.