Laser ion acceleration for radio-biological application – Pushing proton energy frontiers with pre-expanded, actively controlled, near critical density targets


Laser ion acceleration for radio-biological application – Pushing proton energy frontiers with pre-expanded, actively controlled, near critical density targets

Zeil, K.; Rehwald, M.; Bernert, C.; Assenbaum, S.; Brack, F.; Bussmann, M.; Cowan, T.; Curry, C.; Fiuza, F.; Garten, M.; Gaus, L.; Gauthier, M.; Göde, S.; Goethel, I.; Glenzer, S.; Huang, L.; Huebl, A.; Kim, J.; Kluge, T.; Kraft, S.; Kroll, F.; Metzkes-Ng, J.; Loeser, M.; Obst-Huebl, L.; Reimold, M.; Schlenvoigt, H.-P.; Schoenwaelder, C.; Schramm, U.; Siebold, M.; Treffert, F.; Yang, L.; Ziegler, T.; Pawelke, J.; Beyreuther, E.

Demanding applications like radiation therapy of cancer are pushing the frontier of laser
driven proton accelerators with controlled and well-defined proton beam properties.
This talk will give an overview of recent achievements at the high-contrast high power
laser source DRACO at HZDR providing high contrast pulses of >500 TW on target for
the reliable generation of proton beams with energies of around 60 MeV. For efficient
capturing and shaping of the divergent TNSA proton pulses, a setup of two pulsed highfield solenoid magnets has been developed and proven to reliably generate
homogeneous depth dose distributions precisely adapted to the three-dimensional
sample geometry for ultra-high pulse dose rate irradiation scenarios. Using this method,
worldwide first dose controlled volumetric irradiation of in vivo samples with laseraccelerated protons were conducted.
The performance of laser based ion acceleration and the scaling of the laser energy to
achieve increased ion energies strongly depend on the laser temporal contrast and its
effect on the target plasma scale length. Plasma mirror setups have proven to be a
valuable tool to significantly improve the temporal contrast by reducing pre-pulse
intensity and steepening the rising edge of the main laser pulse. With such contrast
enhancement techniques including novel diagnostic schemes, laser proton acceleration
using ultra-thin foil targets as well as renewable debris-free hydrogen jets were
investigated in a series of experiments within the near-critical density regime. An
important implication of this is the demonstration of a credible path toward high
repetition rate laser-based ion acceleration applications.

  • Lecture (others)
    Seminar at Bella Labs, Berkeley National Lab, 07.12.2021, Berkely, Vereinigte Staaten von Amerika
  • Lecture (others) (Online presentation)
    Imperial College Plasma Group Seminar, 17.03.2021, Oxford, United Kingdom
  • Lecture (others) (Online presentation)
    Seminar Physik und Technik von Beschleunigern, TU Darmstadt, 26.04.2021, Darmstadt, Deutschland

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-33896
Publ.-Id: 33896