Stable laser-acceleration of high-flux proton beams with plasma collimation

M. J. V. Streeter, G. D. Glenn, S. DiIorio, F. Treffert, B. Loughran, H. Ahmed, S. Astbury, M. Borghesi, N. Bourgeois, C. B. Curry, S. J. D. Dann, N. P. Dover, T. Dzelzainis, O. C. Ettlinger, M. Gauthier, L. Giuffrida, S. H. Glenzer, R. J. Gray, J. S. Green, G. S. Hicks, C. Hyland, V. Istokskaia, M. King, D. Margarone, O. McCusker, P. McKenna, Z. Najmudin, C. Parisuaña, P. Parsons, C. Spindloe, D. R. Symes, A. G. R. Thomas, N. Xu and C. A. J. Palmer (c.palmer@qub.ac.uk)
Additional contact information
M. J. V. Streeter: Queen’s University Belfast
G. D. Glenn: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
S. DiIorio: University of Michigan
F. Treffert: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
B. Loughran: Queen’s University Belfast
H. Ahmed: STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
S. Astbury: STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
M. Borghesi: Queen’s University Belfast
N. Bourgeois: STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
C. B. Curry: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
S. J. D. Dann: STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
N. P. Dover: Imperial College London
T. Dzelzainis: STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
O. C. Ettlinger: Imperial College London
M. Gauthier: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
L. Giuffrida: The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC
S. H. Glenzer: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
R. J. Gray: University of Strathclyde
J. S. Green: STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
G. S. Hicks: Imperial College London
C. Hyland: Queen’s University Belfast
V. Istokskaia: The Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC
M. King: University of Strathclyde
D. Margarone: Queen’s University Belfast
O. McCusker: Queen’s University Belfast
P. McKenna: University of Strathclyde
Z. Najmudin: Imperial College London
C. Parisuaña: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
P. Parsons: Queen’s University Belfast
C. Spindloe: STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
D. R. Symes: STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
A. G. R. Thomas: University of Michigan
N. Xu: Imperial College London
C. A. J. Palmer: Queen’s University Belfast

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Laser-plasma acceleration of protons offers a compact, ultra-fast alternative to conventional acceleration techniques, and is being widely pursued for potential applications in medicine, industry and fundamental science. Creating a stable, collimated beam of protons at high repetition rates presents a key challenge. Here, we demonstrate the generation of multi-MeV proton beams from a fast-replenishing ambient-temperature liquid sheet. The beam has an unprecedentedly low divergence of 1° (≤20 mrad), resulting from magnetic self-guiding of the proton beam during propagation through a low density vapour. The proton beams, generated at a repetition rate of 5 Hz using only 190 mJ of laser energy, exhibit a hundred-fold increase in flux compared to beams from a solid target. Coupled with the high shot-to-shot stability of this source, this represents a crucial step towards applications.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56248-4

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