Proton emission from resonant laser absorption and self-focusing effects from hydrogenated structures

Effects of resonant absorption and self-focusing are investigated by using fast and intense laser pulses. The ion emission and acceleration in the non-equilibrium laser-generated plasma are investigated at low and high intensities, from 1010 up to about 1016 W/cm2. The properties of plasma are strongly dependent on the time and space, laser intensity and wavelength. A special interest concerns the energetic and intense proton generation for the multiplicity use that proton beams have in different scientific fields (Nuclear Physics, Astrophysics, Bio-Medicine, Microelecronics, etc.). Investigations have been performed at INFN-LNS of Catania and at PALS Laboratory of Prague, by using thick and thin targets and different technique of ion analysis. The mechanisms of resonant absorption of the laser light, produced in special targets containing nanostructures with dimensions comparable with the laser wavelength, enhances the proton energy. The mechanisms of self-focusing, obtained by changing the laser focal distance from the target surface, increase the local intensity and consequently the high directional ion acceleration. Real-time ion detections were performed through Thomson parabola spectrometer (TPS), ion collectors (IC), SiC detectors and ion energy analyzer (IEA) employed in time-of-flight configuration (TOF). The energy and the amount of ions increase significantly when the two non-linear phenomena occurs, as will be described.