Speaker
Description
Ion stopping in dense plasmas remains a fundamental yet not fully understood topic in modern physics. It plays a central role in Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF), where target self-heating by alpha particles initiates ignition and thermonuclear gain. The phenomenon is even more critical for target-heating schemes that employ ion beams as the primary drivers, such as in heavy-ion fusion or ion-driven fast ignition. Moreover, ion stopping in plasmas is of key importance in high-energy-density physics for the generation and characterization of Warm Dense Matter (WDM), as well as in astrophysical contexts.
A recent experiment [1] performed at the Centro de Láseres Pulsados (CLPU) in Salamanca by using the petawatt-class laser VEGA has demonstrated the potentiality of ultra-short, high-intensity laser pulses to enable dedicated and unique experimental studies of ion stopping power. This is achieved by simultaneously producing ultra-short ion bursts [2] and isochorically heated plasmas, creating well-controlled experimental conditions.
In this talk, I will present:
(i) the fundamental physics governing ion stopping power in Warm Dense Matter, and
(ii) an overview of the CLPU laser system, highlighting its main capabilities and experimental possibilities for future studies in this field.
References
[1] S. Malko, et,al., Proton stopping measurements at low velocity in warm dense carbon, Nature communication, (2022).
[2] L. Volpe et al, A Platform for Ultra-Fast Proton Probing of Matter in Extreme Conditions, Sensors 24 (16), 5254 (2024).
