Nm-sized cryogenic hydrogen clusters for a laser-driven proton source

Abstract

A cryogenic hydrogen cluster-jet target is described which has been used for laser-plasma interaction studies. Major advantages of the cluster-jet are, on the one hand, the compatibility to pulsed high repetition lasers as the target is operated continuously and, on the other hand, the absence of target debris. The cluster-jet target was characterized using the Mie-scattering technique allowing to determine the cluster size and to compare the measurements with an empirical formula. In addition, an estimation of the cluster beam density was performed. The system was implemented at the high power laser system ARCTURUS, and the measurements show the acceleration of protons after irradiation of the cluster target by high intensity laser pulses with a repetition rate of 5 Hz.