High-quality ion beams from nanometric double-layer targets and their application to hadron-therapy

The production of ion beams from the interaction of a circularly polarized laser pulse with a nanometric double-layer target is discussed in the regime where all electrons are expelled from the target by laser radiation pressure. Quasi-monochromatic, well-collimated ion beams are observed in two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The ion beam properties are derived from a simple analytical model, and the possibility to control those properties by using a laser pulse with sharp-rising edge is discussed. Potential application to hadron-therapy is finally considered.