HMN 2025: How tiny nozzles and lasers may change big accelerators

Tabletop particle blaster: How tiny nozzles and lasers could replace giant accelerators
Conceptual illustration of micronozzle acceleration (MNA). A strong hydrogen rod is embedded in an aluminum micronozzle, which channels and focuses plasma movement to optimize proton acceleration. Credit: Masakatsu Murakami

Proton beams with giga-electron-volt (GeV) energies—as soon as considered achievable solely with large particle accelerators—might quickly be generated in compact setups due to a breakthrough by researchers at The University of Osaka.

A group led by Professor Masakatsu Murakami has developed a novel idea known as micronozzle acceleration (MNA). By designing a microtarget with tiny nozzle-like options and irradiating it with ultraintense, ultrashort laser pulses, the group efficiently demonstrated—by means of superior numerical simulations—the technology of high-quality, GeV-class proton beams: a world-first achievement.

The article, “Generation of giga-electron-volt proton beams by micronozzle acceleration,” was published in Scientific Reports.

Unlike conventional laser-based acceleration strategies that use flat targets and attain power limits under 100 mega-electron-volt (MeV), the micronozzle construction allows sustained, stepwise acceleration of protons inside a strong quasi-static electrical discipline created contained in the goal. This new mechanism permits proton energies to exceed 1 GeV, with wonderful high quality and stability.

“This discovery opens a brand new door for compact, high-efficiency particle acceleration,” says Prof. Murakami. “We imagine this methodology has the potential to revolutionize fields similar to laser fusion , superior radiotherapy, and even laboratory-scale astrophysics.”

Tabletop particle blaster: How tiny nozzles and lasers could replace giant accelerators
Concept of micronozzle acceleration (MNA). The MNA goal employs a micronozzle housing a strong hydrogen rod (H-rod), exactly positioned close to the nozzle neck to maximise proton yield. Acting as a “energy lens,” the micronozzle focuses the incident laser power onto the H-rod, enabling environment friendly and localized power deposition. This configuration considerably boosts proton acceleration close to the nozzle exit, outperforming setups missing the nozzle construction. Credit: Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-03385-x

The implications are wide-reaching:

  • Energy: Supports quick ignition schemes in laser-driven nuclear fusion.
  • Medicine: Enables extra compact and exact methods for proton cancer remedy.
  • Fundamental science: Creates circumstances to simulate excessive astrophysical environments and probe matter below ultra-strong magnetic fields.

The study, primarily based on simulations carried out on the SQUID supercomputer at The University of Osaka, marks the first-ever theoretical demonstration of compact GeV acceleration utilizing microstructured targets.

More info:
M. Murakami et al, Generation of giga-electron-volt proton beams by micronozzle acceleration, Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-03385-x

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University of Osaka

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