A multi-shot target wheel assembly for high-repetition-rate, laser-driven proton acceleration

[EN] A multi-shot target assembly and automatic alignment procedure for laser-plasma proton acceleration at high repetition rate are introduced. The assembly is based on a multi-target rotating wheel capable of hosting more than 5000 targets, mounted on a 3D motorized stage to allow rapid replenishment and alignment of the target material between laser irradiations. The automatic alignment procedure consists of a detailed mapping of the impact positions at the target surface prior to the irradiation that ensures stable operation of the target, which alongside the purpose-built design of the target wheel, enables operation at rates up to 10 Hz. Stable and continuous laser-driven proton acceleration at 10 Hz is demonstrated, with observed cut-off energy stability about 15%. This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades under grants RTI2018-101578-B-C21, RTI2018-101578-B-C22, FPI predoctorals BES-2017-08917 and PRE2019-090730, and Unidad de Excelencia Maria de Maetzu under project MdM-2016-0692-17-2, the Xunta de Galicia grants GRC ED431C 2017/54 and ED431F2023/21 and a grant of the program Grupos de investigacion consolidados (CIAICO/2022/008) financed by Generalitat Valenciana. Action co-financed by the European Union through the Programa Operativo del Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) of the Comunitat Valenciana 2014-2020 (IDIFEDER/2021/002). This work was supported by 'la Caixa' Foundation (ID 100010434) (fellowship code LCF/BQ/PI20/11760027) and grant RYC2021-032654-I funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by 'European Union NextGenerationEU'. Peñas, J.; Bembibre, A.; Cortina-Gil, D.; Martín, L.; Reija, A.; Ruiz, C.; Seimetz, M... (2024). A multi-shot target wheel assembly for high-repetition-rate, laser-driven proton acceleration. High Power Laser Science and Engineering. 12. https://doi.org/10.1017/hpl.2024.13