Ion Acceleration: TNSA and Beyond

Abstract

This paper reviews experimental progress in laser-driven ion acceleration as well as discussing some of the current and foreseen applications employing laser-accelerated beams of ions. While sheath acceleration processes initiated by high-intensity irradiation of solid foils (the so-called target Normal Sheath Acceleration, TNSA) have now been studied for two decades, novel processes which can accelerate ions from the bulk of the irradiated target have emerged more recently. We will summarize the basic physics behind all these mechanisms, as well as briefly reporting current experimental evidence.