Description
Laser‑driven ion acceleration at high repetition rate is being advanced at the Scottish Centre for the Application of Plasma-based Accelerators (SCAPA) through the development of a dedicated ion‑source platform in Bunker B. Using a 350 TW, 5 Hz Ti:Sapphire laser system, the platform is engineered to deliver stable proton beams at multi‑Hz repetition rates, supported by new target‑delivery methods, rapid‑cycling diagnostics, and real‑time optimisation tools that address key technical challenges in sustained operation. We report the current proton beam performance and describe the systems enabling reliable high‑rep‑rate operations, including machine‑learning‑driven optimisation routines demonstrated to enhance maximum proton energy. The first experimental campaigns on this platform highlight its emerging capability: automated Bayesian optimisation of source output, irradiation of semiconductor devices to study radiation tolerance for space‑environment applications, and radiobiological studies using a proton‑capture beamline for controlled cellular irradiation. Together, these developments demonstrate a high‑rep‑rate laser‑driven ion source suitable for both applications‑driven and fundamental studies.
