Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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AKBP: Arbeitskreis Beschleunigerphysik

AKBP 11: Plasma Accelerators, Diagnostics II

AKBP 11.1: Talk

Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 16:30–16:45, SCH/A117

Time-Resolved Optical Probing of Water Vapor Effects in Laser-Driven Ion Acceleration — •Kumudini Devendra Pagare, Florian Schweiger, Julia Liese, Alexander Praßelsperger, Sonja Gerlach, Hannah Forsthuber, and Jörg Schreiber — LMU München, Fakultät für Physik-Medizinische Physik, Am Coulombwall 1, 85748 Garching

Applications in laser-driven ion acceleration demand stable and reproducible ion beams with well-controlled properties. The quality of these ion beams depends critically on the dynamics of laser-target interactions, which are determined by both laser and target parameters. Time-resolved optical probing provides insight into these rapid interaction dynamics, revealing the processes responsible for ion acceleration and the mechanisms involved. Here, we examine how water vapor emitted from a recently implemented liquid-leaf target at the Centre for Advanced Laser Applications (CALA) influences the acceleration process. We employ interferometric diagnostics to quantify spatiotemporal vapor density profiles in front of the target surface. This allows us to assess how the expanding vapor interacts with the main laser pulse and affects ion acceleration. These findings elucidate the complex dynamics of laser-target interactions and help optimize the resulting ion beam properties. This work was supported by the DFG under Grant Number 558546291 and CALA.

Keywords: Laser-driven ion acceleration; Laser-target interaction; Optical probing; Liquid-Leaf target