Vlasov modelling of laser-driven collisionless shock acceleration of protons

Journal article, 2016

Ion acceleration due to the interaction between a short high-intensity laser pulse and a moderately overdense plasma target is studied using Eulerian Vlasov-Maxwell simulations. The e ects of variations in the plasma density pro le and laser pulse parameters are investigated, and the interplay of collisionless shock and target normal sheath acceleration is analyzed. It is shown that the use of a layered-target with a combination of light and heavy ions, on the front and rear side respectively, yields a strong quasi-static sheath- eld on the rear side of the heavy-ion part of the target. This sheath- eld increases the energy of the shock-accelerated ions while preserving their mono-energeticity