title: Intense high-quality medical proton beams via laser fields.
abstract: Simulations based on the coupled relativistic equations of motion show that protons stemming from laser-plasma processes can be efficiently post-accelerated employing single and crossed pulsed laser beams focused to spot radii on the order of the laser wavelength. We demonstrate that the crossed beams produce quasi-monoenergetic accelerated protons with kinetic energies exceeding 200 MeV, small energy spreads of about 1% and high densities as required for hadron cancer therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first scheme allowing for this important application based on an all-optical set-up.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut f¨ur Kernphysik, Saupfercheckweg 1, D-69029 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Galow
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Harman
authors.forename: Christoph H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Keitel
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007834:Lasers; D061766:Proton Therapy; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011522:Protons
chemical_list: D011522:Protons