Au/Al Ion Energy Analysis of laser generating plasma at W/c intensity

Abstract

Ion Energy Analyzer was employed to monitor non-equilibrium plasma produced by W/c intensity by 6 ns pulsed Nd:YAg laser. Gold films deposited on aluminium substrates were irradiated in high vacuum conditions. Aluminium and gold ion energy distributions and charge state distributions were investigated in different experimental conditions. The ion energy distributions follow a Coulomb-Boltzmann Shifted function from which it is possible to evaluate the plasma temperature, the charge state distributions and the average acceleration energy acquired per charge state. At the used laser parameters, ion acceleration of the order of 1 keV per charge state and plasma temperature above 300 eV have been measured. Experiments performed at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, and at Messina University Lab, will be presented. Produced ions are prepared to be injected in RFQ linear accelerator for ion source applications, as it will be discussed.