Laser-plasma ion acceleration

As for laser plasma electron acceleration, laser plasma ion acceleration will benefit from using a clean (high contrast, tight focus) multi-PW laser system to push forward laser-accelerated proton energies (to the GeV level), explore "exotic" acceleration mechanisms [direct acceleration of thin (sub-µm) targets by strong radiation pressure and directional Coulomb explosion of ultra-thin (nanoscale) targets] and enter new regimes where both electrons and ions are relativistic.

Such a highly reproducible and controllable proton beam of several hundreds of MeV will have numerous innovative and high-impact applications such as:

radiography of dense objects with ps resolution;
warm dense matter physics;
relativistic laboratory astrophysics;
high-energy nuclear physics (including neutron production);
and possibly medical applications (starting with radiolysis of water).

Members of the thematic group

Audebert Patrick (LULI)
Baldacchino Gérard (CEA/IRAMIS)
Batani Dimitri (CELIA)
Ceccotti Tiberio (LIDyL)
d'Humières Emmanuel (CELIA)
Fausurier Gérald (CEA/DIF)
Flacco Alessandro (LOA)
Fuchs Julien (LULI)
Gremillet Laurent (CEA/DIF)
Hannachi Fazia (CENBG)
Lefebvre Erik (CEA/DIF)
Malka Victor (LOA)
Martin Philippe (LIDyL)
Monot Pascal (LIDyL)
Mora Patrick (CPhT)
Mourou Gérard (IZEST)
Renault Jean-Philippe (CEA/IRAMIS)
Romagnani Lorenzo (LULI)
Tikhonchuk Vladimir (CELIA)