Effect of Electromagnetic Pulse Transverse Inhomogeneity on the Ion Acceleration by Radiation Pressure

TL;DR

This paper investigates how transverse inhomogeneity in electromagnetic pulses affects ion acceleration by radiation pressure, revealing that such inhomogeneity limits ion energy and causes target displacement, with implications for optimizing laser-driven ion acceleration.

Contribution

It provides an analytical model and simulation results demonstrating the impact of pulse inhomogeneity on ion acceleration efficiency and target displacement.

Findings

Maximum ion energy decreases with increased target displacement.

Transverse inhomogeneity causes off-axis target displacement.

Results can optimize laser-driven ion acceleration techniques.

Abstract

In the ion acceleration by radiation pressure a transverse inhomogeneity of the electromagnetic pulse results in the displacement of the irradiated target in the off-axis direction limiting achievable ion energy. This effect is described analytically within the framework of the thin foil target model and with the particle-in-cell simulations showing that the maximum energy of accelerated ions decreases while the displacement from the axis of the target initial position increases. The results obtained can be applied for optimization of the ion acceleration by the laser radiation pressure with the mass limited targets.