Laser-driven ion sources: How can we use a laser as an accelerator?

Since the 1980s, techniques of electrons and positive ions acceleration through the interaction of extremely strong laser pulses with plasma, have been developed. These experiments were a practical implementation of the concept of "coherent acceleration" proposed by Veksler [1] in 1957. In the 1980s proton energies far below 1 MeV were obtained using this technique. The breakthrough came in the next decade when the ultra-high peak power and ultra-short pulse (sub-ps to few tens of fs) lasers were realized and a multi-MeV proton energies have become available. It was possible because of two inventions in the laser science:

• the chirped pulse amplification technique,
• the Kerr lens mode-locking technique.

As a consequence, a new type of ion source was developed. This source is characterized by extremely small dimensions (typically ~ 10 mm), the ultra-short duration (picosecond regime) and broad energy spectrum. These properties make this source suitable for many, including several unique, applications.

During my seminar I will present the history of laser-driven ion acceleration techniques and the state of art of this field. I will illustrate my presentation using some recent experimental results from leading laboratories in the world. I will highlight different applications of laser-driven ion beams. Last but not least, I will comment how laser-driven acceleration techniques could affect some research in the fundamental physics.