PROTON ACCELERATION FROM SPHERICAL TARGETS USING HIGH INTENSITY LASER

Abstract

Laser-driven proton acceleration has emerged as an important research area, driven by its applications
in medical therapy, nuclear fusion, materials science, and radiography. In this study, we explore spherical targets
as proton sources, providing an alternative to conventional flat foil targets. Using a high-intensity laser pulse of
6 × 1020 W/cm2, we demonstrate proton energies exceeding 90 MeV, which is notably higher than the energies
obtained from rectangular foils of the same thickness. Achieving such energy levels is crucial for advancing
practical applications. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that the target diameter plays a decisive role in influencing
the acceleration process. The underlying physical mechanisms responsible for these observations are also
analyzed and discussed in detail.