In this section
@article{Dover:2016:10.1017/S002237781600012X,
author = {Dover, N and Cook, N and Tresca, O and Ettlinger, O and Maharjan, C and Polyanskiy, M and Shkolnikov, P and Pogorelsky, I and Najmudin, Z},
doi = {10.1017/S002237781600012X},
journal = {Journal of Plasma Physics},
title = {Optical shaping of gas targets for laser plasma ion sources},
url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S002237781600012X},
volume = {82},
year = {2016}
}
TY - JOUR
AB - We report on the experimental demonstration of a technique to generate steep densitygradients in gas jet targets of interest to laser plasma ion acceleration. By using anintentional low energy prepulse, we generated a hydrodynamic blast wave in the gas toshape the target prior to the arrival of an intense CO2 (λ ≈ 10 µm) drive pulse. Thistechnique has been recently shown to facilitate the generation of ion beams by shockwaveacceleration (Tresca et al. 2015). Here, we discuss and introduce a model to understandthe generation of these blast waves and discuss in depth the experimental realisationof the technique, supported by hydrodynamics simulations. With appropriate prepulseenergy and timing, this blast wave can generate steepened density gradients as short asl ≈ 20 µm (1/e), opening up new possibilities for laser-plasma studies with near-criticalgaseous targets.
AU - Dover,N
AU - Cook,N
AU - Tresca,O
AU - Ettlinger,O
AU - Maharjan,C
AU - Polyanskiy,M
AU - Shkolnikov,P
AU - Pogorelsky,I
AU - Najmudin,Z
DO - 10.1017/S002237781600012X
PY - 2016///
SN - 1469-7807
TI - Optical shaping of gas targets for laser plasma ion sources
T2 - Journal of Plasma Physics
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S002237781600012X
UR - http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/28948
VL - 82
ER -