Fast particle generation and energy transport in laser-solid interactions

Abstract

The generation of MeV electron and ion beams using lasers with intensities of up to 1020 W cm−2 is reported. Intense ion beams with high energies (up to 40 MeV and to 3×1012 protons >5 MeV) are observed. The properties of these particle beams were measured in considerable detail and the results are compared to current theoretical explanations for their generation.