Possibility of spin polarization of laser-accelerated protons

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25420911
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Nuclear engineering
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: YOGO Akifumi 大阪大学, レーザーエネルギー学研究センタ, 准教授 (50421441)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: レーザープラズマ相互作用 / 高強度レーザー / 高エネルギー密度科学

Outline of Final Research Achievements

When a high-intensity laser is focused on the thin film, a strong electric field reaching a few million volts per micron is generated by the interaction of the laser electromagnetic field and the thin-film plasma. This electric field accelerates protons up to a few million electron volts. At the same time, a killotesla-class strong magnetic field is expected to be induced by the flow of electrons. We aimed to demonstrate nuclear spins of accelerated protons are polarized by the magnetic field.
In experiments with the world's highest intensity laser (LFEX), protons were successfully accelerated up to 50 million electron volts, which was analyzed by the ion-energy spectrometer developed in this study. However, nuclear spin polarization has not been demonstrate. We continue the investigation.

Free Research Field

レーザー粒子加速