Quasi-monoenergetic Tens-of-MeV Proton Beams by a Laser-Illuminated Funnel-Like Target

From numerical simulations, we study the generation of quasi-monoenergetic MeV proton beams from a laser-illuminated funnel-like target. We show that, when passing through such a target, the laser beam can be focused and constricted within a cylindrical bore at the funnel apex from which proton beams are produced. Accompanied by a much-enhanced laser intensity, the proton beams experience more acceleration time than with normal funnel targets. Constriction from the cylinder bore, combined with an enhancement of a separated charge field from Al electrons, protons can attain higher energies up to several tens of MeV. At the same time, strong suppression of the transverse divergence of the laser and proton beams yields a localized, collimated, mono-energetic proton beam.