DOI

Specific ion spectra have been obtained by irradiating spherical and planar targets with 40 fs Ti:Sa laser pulses at intensities of ∼1019 W/cm2. From the mass-limited spherical target, strong modulations in the proton/deuteron spectra and a high laser to ion energy conversion originate, whereas the planar target provides higher cutoff energies of protons. We compare qualitatively models in which the acceleration field is assigned to a multitemperature electron distribution and alternatively where multispecies ion acceleration is important, which both can account for the observed modulations in the spectra. The abundance of ion species and especially the observed strong suppression of the heavy ion species during the ion acceleration from planar targets are estimated on the basis of the interplay of ions with different mass during their ultrafast acceleration and the further ion-bunch propagation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number033101
JournalPhysics of Plasmas
Volume14
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007

    Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics

ID: 85667264