title: Towards highest peak intensities for ultra-short MeV-range ion bunches.
abstract: A laser-driven, multi-MeV-range ion beamline has been installed at the GSI Helmholtz center for heavy ion research. The high-power laser PHELIX drives the very short (picosecond) ion acceleration on μm scale, with energies ranging up to 28.4 MeV for protons in a continuous spectrum. The necessary beam shaping behind the source is accomplished by applying magnetic ion lenses like solenoids and quadrupoles and a radiofrequency cavity. Based on the unique beam properties from the laser-driven source, high-current single bunches could be produced and characterized in a recent experiment: At a central energy of 7.8 MeV, up to 5 × 10(8) protons could be re-focused in time to a FWHM bunch length of τ = (462 ± 40) ps via phase focusing. The bunches show a moderate energy spread between 10% and 15% (ΔE/E0 at FWHM) and are available at 6 m distance to the source und thus separated from the harsh laser-matter interaction environment. These successful experiments represent the basis for developing novel laser-driven ion beamlines and accessing highest peak intensities for ultra-short MeV-range ion bunches.
authors.affiliation: 1] GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Planckstr. 1, D-64291 Darmstadt, Germany [2] Helmholtz Institut Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, D-07734 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Busold
authors.affiliation: GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Planckstr. 1, D-64291 Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.affiliation: GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Planckstr. 1, D-64291 Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brabetz
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität Darmstadt, Institut für Kernphysik, Schloßgartenstraße 9, D-64289 Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jahn
authors.affiliation: 1] Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstr. 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany [2] Technische Universität Dresden, D-01062 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kroll
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität Darmstadt, Institut für Kernphysik, Schloßgartenstraße 9, D-64289 Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Deppert
authors.affiliation: 1] Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstr. 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany [2] Technische Universität Dresden, D-01062 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schramm
authors.affiliation: 1] Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Bautzner Landstr. 400, D-01328 Dresden, Germany [2] Technische Universität Dresden, D-01062 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Cowan
authors.affiliation: 1] GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Planckstr. 1, D-64291 Darmstadt, Germany [2] Helmholtz Institut Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, D-07734 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Abel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blažević
authors.affiliation: 1] GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Planckstr. 1, D-64291 Darmstadt, Germany [2] Helmholtz Institut Jena, Helmholtzweg 4, D-07734 Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bagnoud
authors.affiliation: Technische Universität Darmstadt, Institut für Kernphysik, Schloßgartenstraße 9, D-64289 Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roth