Vlasov modelling of laser-driven collisionless shock acceleration of protons

TL;DR

This paper uses Vlasov-Maxwell simulations to study laser-driven collisionless shock acceleration of protons, revealing how layered targets enhance ion energy and mono-energeticity through sheath-field effects.

Contribution

It introduces a Vlasov modeling approach to analyze the effects of layered targets on collisionless shock acceleration, highlighting the role of sheath-fields in improving ion beam quality.

Findings

Layered targets with light and heavy ions improve ion energy.

Sheath-fields on heavy-ion rear side enhance shock acceleration.

Mono-energetic proton beams are preserved with layered targets.

Abstract

Ion acceleration due to the interaction between a short high-intensity laser pulse and a moderately overdense plasma target is studied using Eulerian Vlasov-Maxwell simulations. The effects of variations in the plasma density profile and laser pulse parameters are investigated, and the interplay of collisionless shock and target normal sheath acceleration is analyzed. It is shown that the use of a layered-target with a combination of light and heavy ions, on the front and rear side respectively, yields a strong quasi-static sheath-field on the rear side of the heavy-ion part of the target. This sheath-field increases the energy of the shock-accelerated ions while preserving their mono-energeticity.