Laser-ion acceleration in the relativistic transparency regime

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The project focuses on elucidating the role of collective plasma processes in high power laser-driven ion acceleration. This is important to the development of the laser-driven ion sources and by extension the application of those sources. The project involves numerical and experimental investigations of collective plasma processes in thin foils undergoing a transition to the relativistic induced transparency regime. It will determine the extent to which the final properties of the beam of accelerated ions can be controlled by manipulating the electrostatic acceleration fields, by inducing controllable collective plasma electron motion.The student's tasks include:* Numerical investigation of the onset of relativistic induced transparency in thin foils and the role this plays in ion acceleration;* Investigation of the extent to which the collective electron and ion response to the volumetric propagation of intense laser light can be used to control ion acceleration;* Experimental investigation to test the predictions of the above simulation programme using high power laser facilities.