title: Comparison of laser ion acceleration from the front and rear surfaces of thin foils.
abstract: The comparative efficiency and beam characteristics of high-energy ions generated by high-intensity short-pulse lasers (approximately 1-6 x 10(19) W/cm2) from both the front and rear surfaces of thin metal foils have been measured under identical conditions. Using direct beam measurements and nuclear activation techniques, we find that rear-surface acceleration produces higher energy particles with smaller divergence and a higher efficiency than front-surface acceleration. Our observations are well reproduced by realistic particle-in-cell simulations, and we predict optimal criteria for future applications.
authors.affiliation: General Atomics, San Diego, California 92121, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sentoku
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karsch
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cobble
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Audebert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nikroo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Antici
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brambrink
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blazevic
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: J-C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gauthier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geissel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hegelich
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pépin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Renard-LeGalloudec
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Cowan