Laser generated proton beam focusing and high temperature isochoric heating of solid matter.

The results of laser-driven proton beam focusing and heating with a high energy (170 J) short pulse are reported. Thin hemispherical aluminum shells are illuminated with the Gekko petawatt laser using 1 μm light at intensities of ∼3×10¹⁸ W/cm² and measured heating of thin Al slabs. The heating pattern is inferred by imaging visible and extreme-ultraviolet light Planckian emission from the rear surface. When Al slabs 100 μm thick were placed at distances spanning the proton focus beam waist, the highest temperatures were produced at 0.94× the hemisphere radius beyond the equatorial plane. Isochoric heating temperatures reached 81 eV in 15 μm thick foils. The heating with a three-dimensional Monte Carlo model of proton transport with self-consistent heating and proton stopping in hot plasma was modeled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]