title: Fast-ion production from short-pulse irradiation of ethanol microdroplets.
abstract: We report on the first detailed measurements of ion energy distributions from microdroplet targets under ultrashort (100 fs), intense (10(16) Wcm(-2)) laser irradiation. Protons with kinetic energies of up to 20 keV are produced in a strongly anisotropic microexplosion. Modeling of the incident electromagnetic field indicates strong spatial variations over the surface of the microdroplet. Detailed numerical modeling shows that nonuniform heating on a submicron scale causes temperature inhomogeneities and nonradial pressure gradients, which drive an energetic nonspherical expansion.
authors.affiliation: The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Symes
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Comley
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Smith