Time-Of-Flight methodologies with large-area diamond detectors for ion characterization in laser-driven experiments

TL;DR

This paper introduces a large-area diamond detector with high EMP shielding and fast response, enabling real-time ion characterization in laser-driven experiments with improved sensitivity and energy resolution.

Contribution

A novel large-area diamond detector prototype with enhanced EMP shielding and fast temporal response for improved ion detection in laser experiments.

Findings

High EMP rejection demonstrated during tests.

Successful calibration and proton spectrum measurement.

Effective real-time ion characterization achieved.

Abstract

Time-Of-Flight (TOF) technique coupled with semiconductor detectors is a powerful instrument to provide real-time characterization of ions accelerated because of laser-matter interactions. Nevertheless, the presence of strong electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) generated during the interactions, can severely hinder its employment. For this reason, the diagnostic system must be designed to have high EMP shielding. Here we present a new advanced prototype of detector, developed at ENEA-Centro Ricerche Frascati (Italy), with a large area (15 mm x 15 mm) polycrystalline diamond sensor having 150 microns thickness. The tailored detector design and testing ensure high sensitivity and, thanks to the fast temporal response, high energy resolution of the reconstructed ion spectrum. The detector was offline calibrated and then successfully tested during an experimental campaign carried out at the PHELIX laser facility at GSI (Germany). The high rejection to EMP fields was demonstrated and suitable calibrated spectra of the accelerated protons were obtained.