Laser-plasma accelerated protons: energy increase in gas-mixtures using high mass number atomic species

TL;DR

This study uses 2D PIC simulations to explore how gas mixtures with high mass number atoms can boost proton energies in laser plasma acceleration, revealing enhanced energies and controllable acceleration dynamics.

Contribution

It demonstrates that gas mixtures with high mass number species improve proton energies and allow control over acceleration via density ratios, a novel approach in laser plasma acceleration.

Findings

Gas mixtures increase proton energies compared to pure hydrogen.

Density ratios in mixtures influence relative acceleration of species.

Simulations show potential for tailored proton acceleration.

Abstract

The idea of using a gas-mixture comprising atoms with high mass number in order to increase proton energies in laser induced plasma acceleration at under critical density is investigated by means of 2D PIC (Particle-In-Cell) simulations. Comparing and discussing the case of a pure hydrogen plasma, and that of a plasma containing higher mass number species with a small percentage of hydrogen, we demonstrated that the mixture enhances the energies of the accelerated protons. We also show that using a gas-mixture introduces the possibility of using the densities ratio to change the relative acceleration of the species.