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)