Laser-to-proton energy transfer efficiency in laser–plasma interactions

• Published in: Journal of plasma physics Vol. 75; no. 2; pp. 235 - 250
• Main Authors: FOURKAL, E., VELTCHEV, I., MA, C.-M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.04.2009
• Subjects: Energy efficiency; Energy transfer; Exact sciences and technology; Laser-plasma interactions; Lasers; Physics; Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges; Physics of plasmas and electric discharges; Plasma; Plasma physics; Protons; Thermodynamics; Accelerators; Laser pulse; Energetic efficiency; Laser targets; Laser plasma interaction; Entropy; Experimental study; Energy transfer

It is shown that the energy of protons accelerated in laser–matter interaction experiments may be significantly increased through the process of splitting the incoming laser pulse into multiple interaction stages of equal intensity. From a thermodynamic point of view, the splitting procedure can be...