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Demonstration of novel laser-based ion acceleration method using nanoparticle target
�Breakthrough in the development of compact and low cost apparatus for Ion beam cancer therapy�
Oct. 13 , 2009
A joint research group has established the new approach for accelerating ions with the use of a cluster-gas target and an ultrashort pulse laser. Using this technique, the team has succeeded to produce highly active state of matter called subcritical density plasma, and ions with energy 10�20 megaelectron volt (MeV) per nucleon are generated. This energy corresponds to approximately tenfold increase in the ion energies compared to previous experiments. The demonstrated approach significantly facilitates the development of compact, high repetition rate laser-driven ion sources for Ion beam cancer therapy. The group consists of Dr. Yuji Fukuda at Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and collaborators at JAEA, Osaka University, Kobe University, and Russian Academy of Sciences.
Recently, ion beam cancer therapy attracts much attention, because this treatment technique dramatically improves the quality of life of patients. Development of laser-driven ion accelerator is one of the cutting-edge research areas, since it opens the door to make the treatment apparatus small and low cost. However, in order to achieve 80-200 MeV proton beam, which is a requisite for Ion beam cancer therapy, huge laser system must be constructed. Therefore, in order to create a compact and low cost apparatus, it is absolutely necessary to investigate a new type of ion acceleration method using moderate-size laser systems.
The research team has demonstrated efficient generation of high energy ions in the subcritical density plasma with energies up to 10�20 MeV per nucleon by using the cluster-gas target and a commercially produced moderate-size laser system. This corresponds to approximately tenfold improvement of the accelerated ion energy compared to previous experiments with solid targets. This method has a potential to generate ions having energy enough high for Ion beam cancer therapy, and can continuously provide target so that it could shorten treatment time. In addition, this method could construct compact ion beam transport line because of its small divergence angle. Therefore, the demonstrated approach has the potential for constructing compact, high repetition rate laser-driven ion sources for ion beam cancer therapy.
This work was supported by the Special Coordination Funds (SCF) for Promoting Science and Technology commissioned by MEXT of Japan. The research results will be published in "Physical Review Letters" (a scientific journal issued by American Physical Society) on October 16, 2009. The paper�s title is "Energy Increase in Multi-MeV Ion Acceleration in the Interaction of a Short Pulse Laser with a Cluster-Gas Target".
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