Laser-Driven Ion Acceleration from Plastic Target

2D particle-in-cell simulation of the interaction of high-intensity laser pulse (parameters are relevant to L3 laser and thus ELIMAIA beamline) with a micrometer-thick flat plastic target. Acceleration of both protons (pink color) and carbon ions (green color), to maximum energy 150 MeV/nucleon and 40 MeV/nucleon, respectively, can be clearly distinguished in the visualization as well as different ion acceleration mechanisms (from the target front side and from its rear side). Such high-energy protons and ions have a great importance for various foreseen applications in Physics, Biology, Medicine, Chemistry, Materials Science, Engineering, and Archaeology.