The collective response of electrons in an ultrathin foil target irradiated by an ultraintense(~6×10^(20)W cm^(-2)) laser pulse is investigated experimentally and via 3D particle-in-cell simulations. It is shown ...The collective response of electrons in an ultrathin foil target irradiated by an ultraintense(~6×10^(20)W cm^(-2)) laser pulse is investigated experimentally and via 3D particle-in-cell simulations. It is shown that if the target is sufficiently thin that the laser induces significant radiation pressure, but not thin enough to become relativistically transparent to the laser light, the resulting relativistic electron beam is elliptical, with the major axis of the ellipse directed along the laser polarization axis. When the target thickness is decreased such that it becomes relativistically transparent early in the interaction with the laser pulse, diffraction of the transmitted laser light occurs through a so called ‘relativistic plasma aperture', inducing structure in the spatial-intensity profile of the beam of energetic electrons. It is shown that the electron beam profile can be modified by variation of the target thickness and degree of ellipticity in the laser polarization.展开更多
Inverse Bremsstrahlung absorption(IBA) of an intense laser field in plasma containing Maxwellian and nonMaxwellian(with Kappa and q-nonextensive distribution functions) electrons is studied analytically. Our results s...Inverse Bremsstrahlung absorption(IBA) of an intense laser field in plasma containing Maxwellian and nonMaxwellian(with Kappa and q-nonextensive distribution functions) electrons is studied analytically. Our results show that IBA decreases with an increase in temperature at high intensities and a decrease in plasma density for all kinds of distribution functions. Another striking result is that IBA is independent of the laser intensity at low intensity but is dependent on it when the intensity is going to rise. Also, it could be find that the behavior of the absorption as the function of laser intensity for the Kappa distribution with κ= 10 at low intensity is close to that for the Maxwellian distribution, but at high intensity it is close to that in the presence of q-nonextensive electrons with q = 0.9. These results provide insights into the inverse Bremsstrahlung absorption in the laser-plasma interactions.展开更多
In this paper, we present a model characterizing the interaction of a radiative shock(RS) with a solid material, as described in a recent paper(Koenig et al., Phys. Plasmas, 24, 082707(2017)), the new model is then re...In this paper, we present a model characterizing the interaction of a radiative shock(RS) with a solid material, as described in a recent paper(Koenig et al., Phys. Plasmas, 24, 082707(2017)), the new model is then related to recent experiments performed on the GEKKO XII laser facility. The RS generated in a xenon gas cell propagates towards a solid obstacle that is ablated by radiation coming from the shock front and the radiative precursor, mimicking processes occurring in astrophysical phenomena. The model presented here calculates the dynamics of the obstacle expansion,which depends on several parameters, notably the geometry and the temperature of the shock. All parameters required for the model have been obtained from experiments. Good agreement between experimental data and the model is found when spherical geometry is taken into account. As a consequence, this model is a useful and easy tool to infer parameters from experimental data(such as the shock temperature), and also to design future experiments.展开更多
The role of the coronal electron plasma temperature for shock-ignition conditions is analysed with respect to the dominant parametric processes: stimulated Brillouin scattering, stimulated Raman scattering, two-plasmo...The role of the coronal electron plasma temperature for shock-ignition conditions is analysed with respect to the dominant parametric processes: stimulated Brillouin scattering, stimulated Raman scattering, two-plasmon decay(TPD), Langmuir decay instability(LDI) and cavitation. TPD instability and cavitation are sensitive to the electron temperature. At the same time the reflectivity and high-energy electron production are strongly affected. For low plasma temperatures the LDI plays a dominant role in the TPD saturation. An understanding of laser–plasma interaction in the context of shock ignition is an important issue due to the localization of energy deposition by collective effects and hot electron production.This in turn can have consequences for the compression phase and the resulting gain factor of the implosion phase.展开更多
High-intensity laser–plasma interactions produce a wide array of energetic particles and beams with promising applications.Unfortunately,the high repetition rate and high average power requirements for many applicati...High-intensity laser–plasma interactions produce a wide array of energetic particles and beams with promising applications.Unfortunately,the high repetition rate and high average power requirements for many applications are not satisfied by the lasers,optics,targets,and diagnostics currently employed.Here,we aim to address the need for high-repetition-rate targets and optics through the use of liquids.A novel nozzle assembly is used to generate highvelocity,laminar-flowing liquid microjets which are compatible with a low-vacuum environment,generate little to no debris,and exhibit precise positional and dimensional tolerances.Jets,droplets,submicron-thick sheets,and other exotic configurations are characterized with pump–probe shadowgraphy to evaluate their use as targets.To demonstrate a highrepetition-rate,consumable,liquid optical element,we present a plasma mirror created by a submicron-thick liquid sheet.This plasma mirror provides etalon-like anti-reflection properties in the low field of 0.1%and high reflectivity as a plasma,69%,at a repetition rate of 1 k Hz.Practical considerations of fluid compatibility,in-vacuum operation,and estimates of maximum repetition rate are addressed.The targets and optics presented here demonstrate a potential technique for enabling the operation of laser–plasma interactions at high repetition rates.展开更多
An ion beam has the unique feature of being able to deposit its main energy inside a human body to kill cancer cells or inside material. However, conventional ion accelerators tend to be huge in size and cost. In this...An ion beam has the unique feature of being able to deposit its main energy inside a human body to kill cancer cells or inside material. However, conventional ion accelerators tend to be huge in size and cost. In this paper, a future intenselaser ion accelerator is discussed to make the laser-based ion accelerator compact and controllable. The issues in the laser ion accelerator include the energy efficiency from the laser to the ions, the ion beam collimation, the ion energy spectrum control, the ion beam bunching, and the ion particle energy control. In the study, each component is designed to control the ion beam quality by particle simulations. The energy efficiency from the laser to ions is improved by using a solid target with a fine sub-wavelength structure or a near-critical-density gas plasma. The ion beam collimation is performed by holes behind the solid target or a multi-layered solid target. The control of the ion energy spectrum and the ion particle energy, and the ion beam bunching are successfully realized by a multi-stage laser–target interaction.展开更多
Fast magnetic field annihilation in a collisionless plasma is induced by using TEM(1,0) laser pulse. The magnetic quadrupole structure formation, expansion and annihilation stages are demonstrated with 2.5-dimensional...Fast magnetic field annihilation in a collisionless plasma is induced by using TEM(1,0) laser pulse. The magnetic quadrupole structure formation, expansion and annihilation stages are demonstrated with 2.5-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The magnetic field energy is converted to the electric field and accelerate the particles inside the annihilation plane. A bunch of high energy electrons moving backwards is detected in the current sheet. The strong displacement current is the dominant contribution which induces the longitudinal inductive electric field.展开更多
The improved laser-to-pedestal contrast ratio enabled by current high-power laser pulse cleaning techniques allows the fine features of the target survive before the main laser pulse arrives. We propose to introduce t...The improved laser-to-pedestal contrast ratio enabled by current high-power laser pulse cleaning techniques allows the fine features of the target survive before the main laser pulse arrives. We propose to introduce the nano-fabrication technologies into laser–plasma interaction to explore the novel effects of micro-structures. We found out that not only laser-driven particle sources but also the laser pulse itself can be manipulated by specifically designed micro-cylinder and-tube targets, respectively. The proposal was supported by full-3D particle-in-cell simulations and successful proofof-principle experiments for the first time. We believe this would open a way to manipulate relativistic laser–plasma interaction at the micro-size level.展开更多
Recent experimental results on NIF revealed a much higher stimulated Brillouin scattering(SBS)and stimulated Raman scattering(SRS)backscatter than expected;one possible reason was due to the coherence between incident...Recent experimental results on NIF revealed a much higher stimulated Brillouin scattering(SBS)and stimulated Raman scattering(SRS)backscatter than expected;one possible reason was due to the coherence between incident laser beams.In our research,two laser beams(~1 ns,~250 J,527 nm in each one)with different coherent degrees between them from the SG-II facility were employed to irradiate an Au plate target;the backscatter of SBS and SRS in the range of the given solid angle had been measured.The results showed that it could change dramatically corresponding to the difference of the coherent degree between the two laser beams,and there was usually more intense backscatter the higher the coherent degree between the incident beams.展开更多
Cerenkov wake amplification can be used as an accelerating scheme,in which a trigger bunch of electrons propagating inside a cylindrical waveguide filled with an active medium generates an initial wake field.Due to th...Cerenkov wake amplification can be used as an accelerating scheme,in which a trigger bunch of electrons propagating inside a cylindrical waveguide filled with an active medium generates an initial wake field.Due to the multiple reflections inside the waveguide,the wake may be amplified significantly more strongly than when propagating in a boundless medium.Sufficiently far away from the trigger bunch the wake,which travels with the same phase velocity as the bunch,reaches saturation and it can accelerate a second bunch of electrons trailing behind.For a CO2 gas mixture our numerical and analytical calculations indicate that a short saturation length and a high gradient can be achieved with a large waveguide radius filled with a high density of excited atoms and a trigger bunch that travels at a velocity slightly above the Cerenkov velocity.To obtain a stable level of saturated wake that will be suitable for particle acceleration,it is crucial to satisfy the single-mode resonance condition,which requires high accuracy in the waveguide radius and the ratio between the electron phase velocity and the Cerenkov velocity.For single-mode propagation our model indicates that it is feasible to obtain gradients as high as GV m-1 in a waveguide length of cm.展开更多
In this paper, we present a reanalysis of the silicon He-α X-ray spectrum emission in Fujioka et al.’s 2009 photoionization experiment. The computations were performed with our radiative-collisional code, RCF. The c...In this paper, we present a reanalysis of the silicon He-α X-ray spectrum emission in Fujioka et al.’s 2009 photoionization experiment. The computations were performed with our radiative-collisional code, RCF. The central ingredients of our computations are accurate atomic data, inclusion of satellite lines from doubly excited states and accounting for the reabsorption of the emitted photons on their way to the spectrometer. With all these elements included, the simulated spectrum turns out to be in good agreement with the experimental spectrum.展开更多
We study the optimization of collisionless shock acceleration of ions based on hydrodynamic modelling and simulations of collisional shock waves in gaseous targets.The models correspond to the specifications required ...We study the optimization of collisionless shock acceleration of ions based on hydrodynamic modelling and simulations of collisional shock waves in gaseous targets.The models correspond to the specifications required for experiments with the CO2 laser at the Accelerator Test Facility at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Vulcan Petawatt system at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.In both cases,a laser prepulse is simulated to interact with hydrogen gas jet targets.It is demonstrated that by controlling the pulse energy,the deposition position and the backing pressure,a blast wave suitable for generating nearly monoenergetic ion beams can be formed.Depending on the energy absorbed and the deposition position,an optimal temporal window can be determined for the acceleration considering both the necessary overdense state of plasma and the required short scale lengths for monoenergetic ion beam production.展开更多
The generation ofγphotons and positrons using an ultrahigh-intensity laser pulse interacting with various plasma solid foils is investigated with a series of quantum electrodynamic particlein-cell(PIC)simulations.Whe...The generation ofγphotons and positrons using an ultrahigh-intensity laser pulse interacting with various plasma solid foils is investigated with a series of quantum electrodynamic particlein-cell(PIC)simulations.When ultrahigh-intensity lasers interact with plasma foils,a large amount of the laser energy is converted intoγphoton energy.The simulation results indicate that for a fixed laser intensity with different foil densities,the conversion efficiency of the laser toγphotons and the number of produced photons are highly related to the foil density.We determine the optimal foil density by PIC simulations for high conversion efficiencies as approximately 250 times the critical plasma density,and this result agrees very well with our theoretical assumptions.Four different foil thicknesses are simulated and the effects of foil thickness onγphoton emission and positron production are discussed.The results indicate that optimal foil thickness plays an important role in obtaining the desiredγphoton and positron production according to the foil density and laser intensity.Further,a relation between the laser intensity and conversion efficiency is present for the optimal foil density and thickness.展开更多
基金supported by EPSRC (grants:EP/J003832/1,EP/M018091/1,EP/L001357/1,EP/K022415/1 and EP/L000237/1)EPSRC grant EP/G054940/1+2 种基金STFC (grant number ST/K502340/1)the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (grant:FA8655-13-1-3008)the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 654148 Laserlab-Europe)
文摘The collective response of electrons in an ultrathin foil target irradiated by an ultraintense(~6×10^(20)W cm^(-2)) laser pulse is investigated experimentally and via 3D particle-in-cell simulations. It is shown that if the target is sufficiently thin that the laser induces significant radiation pressure, but not thin enough to become relativistically transparent to the laser light, the resulting relativistic electron beam is elliptical, with the major axis of the ellipse directed along the laser polarization axis. When the target thickness is decreased such that it becomes relativistically transparent early in the interaction with the laser pulse, diffraction of the transmitted laser light occurs through a so called ‘relativistic plasma aperture', inducing structure in the spatial-intensity profile of the beam of energetic electrons. It is shown that the electron beam profile can be modified by variation of the target thickness and degree of ellipticity in the laser polarization.
文摘Inverse Bremsstrahlung absorption(IBA) of an intense laser field in plasma containing Maxwellian and nonMaxwellian(with Kappa and q-nonextensive distribution functions) electrons is studied analytically. Our results show that IBA decreases with an increase in temperature at high intensities and a decrease in plasma density for all kinds of distribution functions. Another striking result is that IBA is independent of the laser intensity at low intensity but is dependent on it when the intensity is going to rise. Also, it could be find that the behavior of the absorption as the function of laser intensity for the Kappa distribution with κ= 10 at low intensity is close to that for the Maxwellian distribution, but at high intensity it is close to that in the presence of q-nonextensive electrons with q = 0.9. These results provide insights into the inverse Bremsstrahlung absorption in the laser-plasma interactions.
基金supported by the Scientific Council of the Observatoire de Parisby COST(European COoperation in Science and Technology),action MP1208,with a Short-Term Scientific Mission
文摘In this paper, we present a model characterizing the interaction of a radiative shock(RS) with a solid material, as described in a recent paper(Koenig et al., Phys. Plasmas, 24, 082707(2017)), the new model is then related to recent experiments performed on the GEKKO XII laser facility. The RS generated in a xenon gas cell propagates towards a solid obstacle that is ablated by radiation coming from the shock front and the radiative precursor, mimicking processes occurring in astrophysical phenomena. The model presented here calculates the dynamics of the obstacle expansion,which depends on several parameters, notably the geometry and the temperature of the shock. All parameters required for the model have been obtained from experiments. Good agreement between experimental data and the model is found when spherical geometry is taken into account. As a consequence, this model is a useful and easy tool to infer parameters from experimental data(such as the shock temperature), and also to design future experiments.
基金support from grant ANR-11-IDEX-0004-02 Plas@Parthe support of the Czech Science Foundation (Project No. CZ.1.07/2.3.00/20.0279)ELI (Project No. CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0061)
文摘The role of the coronal electron plasma temperature for shock-ignition conditions is analysed with respect to the dominant parametric processes: stimulated Brillouin scattering, stimulated Raman scattering, two-plasmon decay(TPD), Langmuir decay instability(LDI) and cavitation. TPD instability and cavitation are sensitive to the electron temperature. At the same time the reflectivity and high-energy electron production are strongly affected. For low plasma temperatures the LDI plays a dominant role in the TPD saturation. An understanding of laser–plasma interaction in the context of shock ignition is an important issue due to the localization of energy deposition by collective effects and hot electron production.This in turn can have consequences for the compression phase and the resulting gain factor of the implosion phase.
基金supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under LRIR Project 17RQCOR504 under the management of Dr. Riq Parraprovided by the AFOSR summer faculty program
文摘High-intensity laser–plasma interactions produce a wide array of energetic particles and beams with promising applications.Unfortunately,the high repetition rate and high average power requirements for many applications are not satisfied by the lasers,optics,targets,and diagnostics currently employed.Here,we aim to address the need for high-repetition-rate targets and optics through the use of liquids.A novel nozzle assembly is used to generate highvelocity,laminar-flowing liquid microjets which are compatible with a low-vacuum environment,generate little to no debris,and exhibit precise positional and dimensional tolerances.Jets,droplets,submicron-thick sheets,and other exotic configurations are characterized with pump–probe shadowgraphy to evaluate their use as targets.To demonstrate a highrepetition-rate,consumable,liquid optical element,we present a plasma mirror created by a submicron-thick liquid sheet.This plasma mirror provides etalon-like anti-reflection properties in the low field of 0.1%and high reflectivity as a plasma,69%,at a repetition rate of 1 k Hz.Practical considerations of fluid compatibility,in-vacuum operation,and estimates of maximum repetition rate are addressed.The targets and optics presented here demonstrate a potential technique for enabling the operation of laser–plasma interactions at high repetition rates.
基金supported by MEXT, JSPS, ASHULA project/ILE/Osaka University, CORE (Center for Optical Research and Education, Utsunomiya University, Japan), Fudan University, and Shanghai University
文摘An ion beam has the unique feature of being able to deposit its main energy inside a human body to kill cancer cells or inside material. However, conventional ion accelerators tend to be huge in size and cost. In this paper, a future intenselaser ion accelerator is discussed to make the laser-based ion accelerator compact and controllable. The issues in the laser ion accelerator include the energy efficiency from the laser to the ions, the ion beam collimation, the ion energy spectrum control, the ion beam bunching, and the ion particle energy control. In the study, each component is designed to control the ion beam quality by particle simulations. The energy efficiency from the laser to ions is improved by using a solid target with a fine sub-wavelength structure or a near-critical-density gas plasma. The ion beam collimation is performed by holes behind the solid target or a multi-layered solid target. The control of the ion energy spectrum and the ion particle energy, and the ion beam bunching are successfully realized by a multi-stage laser–target interaction.
基金supported by the project ELI:Extreme Light Infrastructure(CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/15-008/0000162)from European Regional Development
文摘Fast magnetic field annihilation in a collisionless plasma is induced by using TEM(1,0) laser pulse. The magnetic quadrupole structure formation, expansion and annihilation stages are demonstrated with 2.5-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The magnetic field energy is converted to the electric field and accelerate the particles inside the annihilation plane. A bunch of high energy electrons moving backwards is detected in the current sheet. The strong displacement current is the dominant contribution which induces the longitudinal inductive electric field.
基金supported by the AFOSR Basic Research Initiative (BRI) under contract FA9550-14-1-0085 and allocations of computing time from the Ohio Supercomputing Centersupported by DFG Trnsregio TR18 (Germany)
文摘The improved laser-to-pedestal contrast ratio enabled by current high-power laser pulse cleaning techniques allows the fine features of the target survive before the main laser pulse arrives. We propose to introduce the nano-fabrication technologies into laser–plasma interaction to explore the novel effects of micro-structures. We found out that not only laser-driven particle sources but also the laser pulse itself can be manipulated by specifically designed micro-cylinder and-tube targets, respectively. The proposal was supported by full-3D particle-in-cell simulations and successful proofof-principle experiments for the first time. We believe this would open a way to manipulate relativistic laser–plasma interaction at the micro-size level.
文摘Recent experimental results on NIF revealed a much higher stimulated Brillouin scattering(SBS)and stimulated Raman scattering(SRS)backscatter than expected;one possible reason was due to the coherence between incident laser beams.In our research,two laser beams(~1 ns,~250 J,527 nm in each one)with different coherent degrees between them from the SG-II facility were employed to irradiate an Au plate target;the backscatter of SBS and SRS in the range of the given solid angle had been measured.The results showed that it could change dramatically corresponding to the difference of the coherent degree between the two laser beams,and there was usually more intense backscatter the higher the coherent degree between the incident beams.
基金supported by the Bi-National Science Foundation(BSF)
文摘Cerenkov wake amplification can be used as an accelerating scheme,in which a trigger bunch of electrons propagating inside a cylindrical waveguide filled with an active medium generates an initial wake field.Due to the multiple reflections inside the waveguide,the wake may be amplified significantly more strongly than when propagating in a boundless medium.Sufficiently far away from the trigger bunch the wake,which travels with the same phase velocity as the bunch,reaches saturation and it can accelerate a second bunch of electrons trailing behind.For a CO2 gas mixture our numerical and analytical calculations indicate that a short saturation length and a high gradient can be achieved with a large waveguide radius filled with a high density of excited atoms and a trigger bunch that travels at a velocity slightly above the Cerenkov velocity.To obtain a stable level of saturated wake that will be suitable for particle acceleration,it is crucial to satisfy the single-mode resonance condition,which requires high accuracy in the waveguide radius and the ratio between the electron phase velocity and the Cerenkov velocity.For single-mode propagation our model indicates that it is feasible to obtain gradients as high as GV m-1 in a waveguide length of cm.
基金supported by the Science Challenge Project(No.TZ2016005)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11903006,12073043 and U1930108)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(No.XDA25030700)。
文摘In this paper, we present a reanalysis of the silicon He-α X-ray spectrum emission in Fujioka et al.’s 2009 photoionization experiment. The computations were performed with our radiative-collisional code, RCF. The central ingredients of our computations are accurate atomic data, inclusion of satellite lines from doubly excited states and accounting for the reabsorption of the emitted photons on their way to the spectrometer. With all these elements included, the simulated spectrum turns out to be in good agreement with the experimental spectrum.
基金support of this work by the project‘ELI-LASERLAB Europe Synergy,HiPER&IPERION-CH.gr’(MIS 5002735)which is implemented under the Action‘Reinforcement of the Research and Innovation Infrastructure’funded by the Operational Programme‘Competitiveness,Entrepreneurship and Innovation’(NSRF 2014-2020)co-financed by Greece and the European Union(European Regional Development Fund)。
文摘We study the optimization of collisionless shock acceleration of ions based on hydrodynamic modelling and simulations of collisional shock waves in gaseous targets.The models correspond to the specifications required for experiments with the CO2 laser at the Accelerator Test Facility at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Vulcan Petawatt system at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.In both cases,a laser prepulse is simulated to interact with hydrogen gas jet targets.It is demonstrated that by controlling the pulse energy,the deposition position and the backing pressure,a blast wave suitable for generating nearly monoenergetic ion beams can be formed.Depending on the energy absorbed and the deposition position,an optimal temporal window can be determined for the acceleration considering both the necessary overdense state of plasma and the required short scale lengths for monoenergetic ion beam production.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11664039)The authors are particularly grateful to CFSA at the University of Warwick for allowing us to use the EPOCH code(developed under UK EPSRC Grants(Nos.EP/G054940/1,EP/G055165/1,and EP/G056803/1)).
文摘The generation ofγphotons and positrons using an ultrahigh-intensity laser pulse interacting with various plasma solid foils is investigated with a series of quantum electrodynamic particlein-cell(PIC)simulations.When ultrahigh-intensity lasers interact with plasma foils,a large amount of the laser energy is converted intoγphoton energy.The simulation results indicate that for a fixed laser intensity with different foil densities,the conversion efficiency of the laser toγphotons and the number of produced photons are highly related to the foil density.We determine the optimal foil density by PIC simulations for high conversion efficiencies as approximately 250 times the critical plasma density,and this result agrees very well with our theoretical assumptions.Four different foil thicknesses are simulated and the effects of foil thickness onγphoton emission and positron production are discussed.The results indicate that optimal foil thickness plays an important role in obtaining the desiredγphoton and positron production according to the foil density and laser intensity.Further,a relation between the laser intensity and conversion efficiency is present for the optimal foil density and thickness.
