Novel Techniques for control and optimisation of laser driven ion beams

基于激光的粒子加速器的关键在于其成本效益和紧凑性。然而，质子束加速的一个非常有前途的激光为基础的加速机制，所谓的目标正常鞘加速（TNSA），遭受的缺点，如宽的能量谱和大的光束发散。该项目旨在释放一些新技术的全部潜力，以控制和改进质子束参数，并可能提供加速器标准束，用于科学，工业和医疗保健的广泛应用。这些技术要么基于对目标形状和几何形状的简单修改，要么巧妙地利用强激光相互作用产生的极高静电场和磁场。一个特别的兴趣是，通过利用这些技术，激光器可以被运输到应用区域附近，从而避免了与传统机器相关的传输光束线和辐射屏蔽成本。考虑到中子源的发展，高能离子的准直密集束是非常有吸引力的。鉴于离子是由紧凑的基于激光的机器产生的，中子源将为工业，技术和医疗保健应用提供机会，例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捕获治疗（BNCT）技术的癌症治疗中心。在两年的赠款期限内，将实施严格的工作计划。虽然主办大学的内部激光设施（TARANIS）将有助于对这些计划的几个方面进行系统的调查，但这些计划将在大规模的激光设施（如英国RAL-STFC的Vulcan和GEMINI Petawatt设施）中进行，目的是展示预期的改进性能。

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.