Towards highest peak intensities for ultra-short MeV-range ion bunches


Towards highest peak intensities for ultra-short MeV-range ion bunches

Busold, S.; Schumacher, D.; Brabetz, C.; Jahn, D.; Kroll, F.; Deppert, O.; Schramm, U.; Cowan, T. E.; Blažević, A.; Bagnoud, V.; Roth, M.

A laser-driven, multi-MeV-range ion beamline has been installed at the GSI Helmholtz center for heavy ion research. The high-power laser PHELIX drives the very short (picosecond) ion acceleration on μm scale, with energies ranging up to 28.4MeV for protons in a continuous spectrum. The necessary beam shaping behind the source is accomplished by applying magnetic ion lenses like solenoids and quadrupoles and a radiofrequency cavity. Based on the unique beam properties from the laser-driven source, high-current single bunches could be produced and characterized in a recent experiment: At a central energy of 7.8MeV, up to 5×10^8 protons could be re-focused in time to a FWHM bunch length of τ=(462±40) ps via phase focusing. The bunches show a moderate energy spread between 10% and 15% (ΔE/E0 at FWHM) and are available at 6m distance to the source und thus separated from the harsh laser-matter interaction environment. These successful experiments represent the basis for developing novel laser-driven ion beamlines and accessing highest peak intensities for ultra-short MeV-range ion bunches.

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-22272
Publ.-Id: 22272