Characterisation of deuterium spectra from laser driven multi-species sources by employing differentially filtered image plate detectors in Thomson spectrometers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method using differential filtering with image plate detectors in Thomson spectrometers to accurately characterize deuterium ion spectra from laser-driven multi-species sources, enabling better discrimination of ion species.

Contribution

The study presents a novel differential filtering technique combined with detector calibration to distinguish deuterium ions from other species in laser-driven ion sources.

Findings

Successful discrimination of deuterium ions from heavier species.

Calibrated detector response over a wide energy range.

Application demonstrated with experimental deuterium spectra.

Abstract

A novel method for characterising the full spectrum of deuteron ions emitted by laser driven multi-species ion sources is discussed. The procedure is based on using differential filtering over the detector of a Thompson parabola ion spectrometer, which enables discrimination of deuterium ions from heavier ion species with the same charge-to-mass ratio (such as C6+, O8+, etc.). Commonly used Fuji Image plates were used as detectors in the spectrometer, whose absolute response to deuterium ions over a wide range of energies was calibrated by using slotted CR-39 nuclear track detectors. A typical deuterium ion spectrum diagnosed in a recent experimental campaign is presented.