Influence of the target front-surface curvature on proton acceleration in laser-foil interaction

Abstract

Energetic proton generation from thin foil targets by ultraintense laser pulse is investigated using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation. Foil targets with concave, flat, and convex front surfaces are considered. The maximum energy of the accelerated protons depends on the front-surface curvature, and the highest-energy protons are from the concave foil. The result can be attributed to an enhancement of the generation as well as concentration of the laser-driven hot electrons by the concave surface.