Chapter 7
Application of CR-39 Solid State Nuclear
Track Detectors to Laser-Driven Ion
Acceleration Experiments
Masato Kanasaki, Tomoya Yamauchi, Keiji Oda, and Yuji Fukuda
Abstract The solid state nuclear track detector CR-39 is the most reliable ion detector used in laser-driven ion acceleration experiments. This is because CR-39 detectors
can measure from one ion without X-ray and electron noise generated by the interaction between the intense laser pulse and the target matter. In addition, the incident
energy and the spatial distributions of the laser-accelerated ions are also revealed by
the careful analysis of the etch pits in CR-39 detectors. The present paper comments
on CR-39 detectors based on previous studies with a focus on an analysis technique
of the etch pits to obtain the incident energy of the laser-accelerated ions.
7.1 Introduction
Laser-driven ion acceleration has been one of the most active areas of research in
the last several years, given that accelerated ions have unique properties, such as
ultrashort duration, high brilliance, and low emittance [1, 2]. Recently, protons with
energies exceeding 94 MeV were recorded via a hybrid scheme of radiation pressuresheath acceleration in an ultrathin foil irradiated by a linearly polarised laser pulse [3].
Here, understanding the mechanism of the ion acceleration is critical for improving
the energy and quality of laser-accelerated ion beams. A precise quantitative characterization of ion beams in the both space and energy domains allows us to discuss
the physics of the laser-driven ion acceleration process.
In such a situation, CR-39 detectors, which are the most sensitive solid state
nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs), have been used as the most reliable detector for
M. Kanasaki · T. Yamauchi · K. Oda
Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University, 5-1-1 Fukaeminami-machi,
Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-0022, Japan
e-mail: kanasaki@maritime.kobe-u.ac.jp
Y. Fukuda (B)
Kansai Photon Science Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological
Science and Technology, 8-1-7 Umemi-dai, Kizugawa-shi, Kyoto 619-0216, Japan
e-mail: fukuda.yuji@qst.go.jp
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
K. Yamanouchi and D. Charalambidis (eds.), Progress in Ultrafast
Intense Laser Science XV, Topics in Applied Physics 136,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47098-2_7
133
Application of CR-39 Solid State Nuclear
Track Detectors to Laser-Driven Ion
Acceleration Experiments
Masato Kanasaki, Tomoya Yamauchi, Keiji Oda, and Yuji Fukuda
Abstract The solid state nuclear track detector CR-39 is the most reliable ion detector used in laser-driven ion acceleration experiments. This is because CR-39 detectors
can measure from one ion without X-ray and electron noise generated by the interaction between the intense laser pulse and the target matter. In addition, the incident
energy and the spatial distributions of the laser-accelerated ions are also revealed by
the careful analysis of the etch pits in CR-39 detectors. The present paper comments
on CR-39 detectors based on previous studies with a focus on an analysis technique
of the etch pits to obtain the incident energy of the laser-accelerated ions.
7.1 Introduction
Laser-driven ion acceleration has been one of the most active areas of research in
the last several years, given that accelerated ions have unique properties, such as
ultrashort duration, high brilliance, and low emittance [1, 2]. Recently, protons with
energies exceeding 94 MeV were recorded via a hybrid scheme of radiation pressuresheath acceleration in an ultrathin foil irradiated by a linearly polarised laser pulse [3].
Here, understanding the mechanism of the ion acceleration is critical for improving
the energy and quality of laser-accelerated ion beams. A precise quantitative characterization of ion beams in the both space and energy domains allows us to discuss
the physics of the laser-driven ion acceleration process.
In such a situation, CR-39 detectors, which are the most sensitive solid state
nuclear track detectors (SSNTDs), have been used as the most reliable detector for
M. Kanasaki · T. Yamauchi · K. Oda
Graduate School of Maritime Sciences, Kobe University, 5-1-1 Fukaeminami-machi,
Higashinada-ku, Kobe 658-0022, Japan
e-mail: kanasaki@maritime.kobe-u.ac.jp
Y. Fukuda (B)
Kansai Photon Science Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological
Science and Technology, 8-1-7 Umemi-dai, Kizugawa-shi, Kyoto 619-0216, Japan
e-mail: fukuda.yuji@qst.go.jp
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
K. Yamanouchi and D. Charalambidis (eds.), Progress in Ultrafast
Intense Laser Science XV, Topics in Applied Physics 136,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47098-2_7
133