Omega EP, laser scalings and the 60 MeV barrier: First observations of ion acceleration performance in the 10 picosecond kilojoule short-pulse regime

Abstract

Omega EP is capable of producing 1000 J in 10 ps and is currently the most energetic short-pulse laser in the world. The performance of EP in terms of proton beam energies is compared with other laser systems worldwide at similar intensities. Omega EP results are discussed in the context of these lasers and the empirical ∼ 60 MeV barrier, which has existed since the discovery of forward laser-accelerated protons in 2000 [1–2].