Laser-generated plasma by carbon nanoparticles embedded into polyethylene

• Advanced targets are prepared using UHMWPE containing CNT at different concentrations.
• The composite has different optical, mechanical, electrical and compositional properties with respect to polyethylene.
• Higher ion accelerations with respect to the pure polyethylene are obtained from laser generated plasmas at 1010 W/cm2 intensity.
• High carbon ion yields with respect to the pure polyethylene are obtained from laser generated plasmas at 1010 W/cm2 intensity.
• Advanced targets were prepared to be irradiated in TNSA regime using laser at 1018 W/cm2 intensity.

Carbon nanoparticles have been embedded into polyethylene at different concentrations by using chemical–physical processes. The synthesized material was characterized in terms of physical modifications concerning the mechanical, compositional and optical properties. Obtained flat targets have been irradiated by Nd:YAG laser at intensities of the order of 1010 W/cm2 in order to generate non-equilibrium plasma in vacuum. The laser–matter interaction produces charge separation effects with consequent acceleration of protons and carbon ions. Plasma was characterized using time-of-flight measurements of the accelerated ions. Applications of the produced targets in order to generate carbon ion beams from laser-generated plasma are presented and discussed.