Fast proton generation from ultrashort laser pulse interaction with double-layer foil targets -: art. no. 215001

The results of studies of fast-proton generation from foil targets irradiated by 1-ps laser pulse at 10(17) W/cm(2) are presented. It is shown that a considerable increase in proton energy and current is possible when a double-layer foil target containing a high-Z layer and a low-Z hydrogen-rich layer is used instead of a single-layer target. Proton energies and current increase with the Z of the high-Z layer and depend essentially on the target and the layer thicknesses. Above 10(9) forward-emitted protons of energy >100 keV have been recorded within a cone angle <3<degrees>.