Cumulation and acceleration of ions by TW femtosecond laser impulse

Summary form only given. Theoretical investigations of a new method of ion cumulation and acceleration under 3-dimensional compression of plasma in a "light trap" created in the focal region of a powerful femtosecond laser are represented. The "light trap" is formed by a delay in time of the central part of the focused impulse. Using numerical methods, the cumulation degree and maximum energy of accelerated ions which depend on the values of the powerful femtosecond laser impulse have been studied. The physical mechanisms of increasing ion density and energy in the paraxial range of plasma have been discussed. The proposed method of ion cumulation and acceleration allows creation of a compact bright source of fast neutrons, media for X-ray and gamma-lasers, and also provides the unique possibility of nuclear reaction initiation and isotope production.