Laser-driven proton acceleration beyond 100 MeV by radiation pressure and Coulomb repulsion in a conduction-restricted plasma

Yinren Shou, Xuezhi Wu, Ki Hong Pae, Gwang-Eun Ahn, Seung Yeon Kim, Seong Hoon Kim, Jin Woo Yoon, Jae Hee Sung, Seong Ku Lee, Zheng Gong, Xueqing Yan, Il Woo Choi () and Chang Hee Nam ()
Additional contact information
Yinren Shou: Institute for Basic Science
Xuezhi Wu: Institute for Basic Science
Ki Hong Pae: Institute for Basic Science
Gwang-Eun Ahn: Institute for Basic Science
Seung Yeon Kim: Institute for Basic Science
Seong Hoon Kim: Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
Jin Woo Yoon: Institute for Basic Science
Jae Hee Sung: Institute for Basic Science
Seong Ku Lee: Institute for Basic Science
Zheng Gong: Stanford University
Xueqing Yan: Peking University
Il Woo Choi: Institute for Basic Science
Chang Hee Nam: Institute for Basic Science

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract An ultrahigh-intensity femtosecond laser can establish a longitudinal electric field stronger than 1013 Vm−1 within a plasma, accelerating particles potentially to GeV over a sub-millimetre distance. Laser-accelerated protons with high brightness and picosecond duration are highly desired for applications including proton imaging and flash radiotherapy, while a major limitation is the relatively low proton energy achieved yet, primarily due to the lack of a controllable acceleration structure. Here, we report the generation of protons with a cutoff energy exceeding 110 MeV, achieved by irradiating a multi-petawatt femtosecond laser on a conduction-restricted nanometre polymer foil with a finite lateral size. The enduring obstacles in achieving ultrahigh laser contrast and excellent laser pointing accuracy were successfully overcome, allowing the effective utilization of size-reduced nanometre foils. A long acceleration structure could be maintained in such a quasi-isolated foil since the conduction of cold electrons was restricted and a strong Coulomb field was established by carbon ions. Our achievement paves the road to enhance proton energy further, well meeting the requirements for applications, through a controllable acceleration process using well-designed nano- or micro-structured targets.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56667-3

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