High resolution laser-driven proton radiography

Laser-accelerated beams of Mega-electron volt protons have been produced at the Los Alamos Trident laser facility and used for high-resolution point-projection proton radiography of Au grids. The effective proton source size affords an inherent resolution of 2-3 mum in the object plane. The proton beam is characterized by ion time-of-flight Faraday cup measurements and nuclear particle track detectors. Laser-driven proton radiography appears promising as a valuable research tool for probing plasmas or modest density objects. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.