High Efficiency Laser-Driven Proton Sources Using 3D-Printed Micro-Structure

We applied 3D-printed microwire-array (MWA) structure to boost the energy conversion efficiency of laser proton acceleration. The advanced nano-printing technique allows precise control on the spacing and geometrical size of 3D structures at 100-500 nm resolution. Under irradiation of high contrast laser pulse (15J, 35fs), the MWA target generates over 1.2×1012 protons (> 1MeV) with cut-off energies extending to 25MeV, corresponding to top-end of 8.7% energy conversion efficiency from femtosecond lasers. When comparing to flat foils the efficiency is enhanced by three times, while the cut-off energy is increased by 30-70% depending on their thicknesses. By precisely controlling the array period via 3D nano-printing, we found the dependence of proton energy/conversion-efficiency on the spacing of the MWA. The experimental trend is well reproduced by hydrodynamic and Particle-In-Cell simulations, which reveal for the first time the modulation of pre-plasma profile induced by laser diffraction within the fine structures. Optimal geometry for laser-proton acceleration is therefore strongly modified. Our work validates the use of 3D-printed micro-structures to produce high efficiency laser-driven particle sources and pointed out the new effect in optimizing the experimental conditions.

Improve beam quality of laser proton acceleration with funnel-shaped-hole target

Improve beam quality of laser proton acceleration using a funnel-shaped-hole target is demonstrated through particle simulations. When an intense short pulse laser illuminates a thin foil target with a hole at the rear surface, the proton beam divergence is suppressed compared with that obtained in a traditional flat target. In this paper, a funnel-shaped-hole target is proposed to improve the proton beam quality. Using two-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, three different shapes of target (funnel-shaped-hole target, cylinder-shaped-hole target and flat target) are simulated and compared. The funnel-shaped hole in the rear surface of the target helps to focus the electron cloud significantly and improve the maximum proton energy and suppress the proton beam divergence. Different thicknesses of the new target are also simulated, and the effects of thickness on the divergence angle and proton spectra are investigated. The optimal size of the new target is obtained and the quality of the proton beam is improved significantly. The funnel-shaped-hole target serves as a new method to improve the proton beam quality in laser–plasma interactions.