Investigation of Proton Beam-Driven Fusion Reactions Generated by an Ultra-Short Petawatt-Scale Laser Pulse

Figure 3

Rear-side TP ion spectra (TNSA protons) show 10⁴ times more particles for 1ω vs. 2ω irradiation. The data show single-shot spectra, per 1 J of laser energy, by dividing the multishot integrated measurement by the number of shots and laser energy. (a) The 2ω spectra are very similar for both the Mylar foil and the BN nanotube target, despite the BN nanotube target being 100 times thicker. (b) The 1ω spectra exhibit about 100 times more protons at 1 MeV. Additionally, the BN nanotube target accelerated protons up to 20 MeV energy, about five times higher than the Al foil target.

(a)

(b)