Energetic ions generation in the interaction between ultrashort ultraintense laser pulse and solid target

Energetic ions generated from a solid target irradiated normally by an ultrashort ultraintense laser pulse is examined by 2D3V particle-in-cell simulations. The energetic ions are observed from both the front and the rear of the target. The ions energy spectra are obtained. The simulation results show that the energetic ions from the front of the target have a rather larger angular distribution, and deposit energy in the target, while the energetic ions from the rear target surface are highly directed and are accelerated to higher energy. The ion energy from the simulation is consistent with that observed in experiments.