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)