New energy record for proton acceleration of the next generation

In an experiment, they succeeded in accelerating protons to speeds corresponding to around half the speed of light. This leads to energies of 150 megaelectronvolts (MeV), which is almost double the previous record. This discovery could drive the development of more compact and efficient accelerators that could be used in areas such as tumour therapy or materials science.

The method used by the researchers utilises very short laser pulses that are directed at thin foils. This interaction greatly accelerates the protons. In the future, this technology could replace large, power-intensive systems that were previously required for similar applications. The researchers at the HZDR want to further improve this method and aim to achieve proton energies of over 200 MeV in the near future. These advances could increase the efficiency of accelerators and have an impact on medical research and materials science.

Publication: T. Ziegler et al., Nature Physics 2024 (DOI: 10.1038/s41567 024 02505 0)

Press release: https://www.hzdr.de/db/Cms?pOid=71859&pNid=3438