Novel approach to laser-driven multi-stage ion acceleration

All-optical approaches to particle acceleration are currently attracting a significant research effort internationally. Key to the interest in a laser based particle accelerator lies in its cost effective and compactness. However, the ion beams accelerated by the laser-driven mechanisms have shortcomings such as a broad energy spectrum and large beam divergence. A recently developed concept of a versatile, miniature linear accelerating module harnesses the extremely high electromagnetic pulses produced by the interaction of intense lasers, and achieves simultaneous focusing, energy selection and post-acceleration of the proton beams. The process boosts the energy of the ions accelerated from the foil, through the application of a large amplitude field within a helical coil, which travels synchronously with the ions. This process lends itself to multi-staging, i.e. the sequential application of laser-driven accelerating fields, which is highly promising for significant increase of the accelerated proton energies. The project aims to develop this multi-stage approach which is totally new in the context of laser-driven protons, and can pave the way towards miniature, modular ion accelerators providing beams suitable for medical, scientific and industrial applications.<br/><i><br/>Thesis embargoed until 31 December 2026</i>.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral Thesis

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Queen's University Belfast

Year dc:date.issued

2021

Author dc:creator

• Ferguson, Simon

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Kar, Satyabrata
• Borghesi, Marco

• Laser ion acceleration
• helical coil

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:studenttheses/3d733bfb-018a-4caf-8bef-ed8b4bf443ab

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:pure.qub.ac.uk/portal:studenttheses/3d733bfb-018a-4caf-8bef-ed8b4bf443ab