Measurements of energetic proton transport through magnetized plasma from intense laser interactions with solids
Protons with energies up to 18 MeV have been measured from high density laser-plasma interactions at incident laser intensities of 5x10(19) W/cm(2). Up to 10(12) protons with energies greater than 2 MeV were observed to propagate through a 125 &mgr;m thick aluminum target and measurements of their angular deflection were made. It is likely that the protons originate from the front surface of the target and are bent by large magnetic fields which exist in the target interior. To agree with our measurements these fields would be in excess of 30 MG and would be generated by the beam of fast electrons which is also observed.
Clark
EL
Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom and Radiation Physics Department, AWE plc, Aldermaston, Reading RG7 4PR, United Kingdom.
Krushelnick
K
Davies
JR
Zepf
M
Tatarakis
M
Beg
FN
Machacek
A
Norreys
PA
Santala
MI
Watts
I
Dangor
AE