Laser plasma as an effective ion source

Ions in different charge state and with different energy distribution are generated in the process of interaction of intense laser radiation with solid targets. Multiply charged ions of medium- and high-Z elements (Al, Co, Ni, Cu, Sn, Ta, W, Pt, Au, Pb, Bi), produced by photodissociation iodine laser system PERUN ((lambda) equals 1.315 micrometer, E L approximately 40 J, (tau) approximately 500 ps) are reported. Corpuscular diagnostics based on time-of-flight method (ion collectors and a cylindrical electrostatic ion energy analyzer) as well as Thomson parabola spectrometer were used in the experiments. The ions in maximum charge state up to about 55+ and with energies of several MeV were registered at a distance of about 2 m from the plasma plume. Measured ion current densities higher than 10 mA/cm 2 in about 1 m from the target demonstrate the performance of laser ion source. A theoretical interpretation of ion spectra is attempted.