Novel Techniques for control and optimisation of laser driven ion beams

人们对激光粒子加速器感兴趣的关键在于它的成本效益和紧凑性。然而，被称为靶法向鞘加速(TNSA)的一种极具发展前景的激光加速机制存在着能量谱宽、光束发散大等缺点。该项目旨在充分释放一些新技术的潜力，以便控制和改进质子束参数，并可能提供一种在科学、工业和医疗保健中广泛应用的加速器标准。这些技术要么是基于对目标形状和几何形状的简单修改，要么是巧妙地利用强激光相互作用产生的极高的静电和磁场。一个特别有趣的是，通过利用这些技术，激光可以被运送到靠近应用区域的地方，从而绕过与传统机器相关的传输光束线和辐射屏蔽成本。考虑到一种吸引人的中子源的发展，准直的密集高能离子束是非常有吸引力的。鉴于离子是由紧凑型激光机器产生的，中子源将为工业、技术和医疗应用提供机会，如锂离子电池和燃料电池的诊断、半导体掺杂和基于新型硼中子俘获疗法(BNCT)技术的癌症治疗中心。在赠款的两年期间，将实施一项严格的工作计划。虽然主办大学的内部激光设施(Taranis)将促进对这些计划的几个方面的系统调查，但这些计划将部署在功率明显更高的大型激光设施(如位于英国Ral-STFC的Vulcan和Gemini Petawatt设施)，以证明预期的性能改善。

Key to the interest in a laser based particle accelerator lies in its cost effective and compactness. However, the proton beams accelerated by one of the highly promising laser based acceleration mechanisms, the so called Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA), suffers of shortcomings such as a broad energy spectrum and large beam divergence. The project aims to unlock the full potential of a number of novel techniques in order to control and improve upon the proton beam parameters, and possibly to deliver a beam of accelerator standard for widespread application in science, industry and healthcare. The techniques are based on either simple modifications of target shape and geometry, or by ingeniously harnessing extremely high electrostatic and magnetic fields produced by the interaction of intense lasers. A specific interest is that, by utilising these techniques, lasers can be transported close to the application area circumventing delivery beam-lines and radiation shielding costs associated with a conventional machine. A collimated dense bunch of energetic ions is highly attractive in view of the development of an appealing neutron source. Given the fact that the ions are produced by a compact laser-based machine, the neutron souce will offer opportunities for industrial, technological and healthcare applications, such as diagnosis of Li-ion battery and fuel cells, semiconductor doping and cancer therapy centre based on novel Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) technique. Over the two year duration of the grant, a rigorous work plan will be implemented. Whereas the in-house laser facility (TARANIS) at the host university will facilitate a systematic investigation of several aspects of the schemes, the schemes will be fielded at large-scale, laser facilities with significantly higher power (such as the Vulcan and GEMINI Petawatt facilities at RAL-STFC, UK) with the aim to demonstrate the expected improved performance.