We are currently focusing on the improvement of contrast pedestal (CP) in the compressed laser pulse of PW Ti:Sapphire lasers. In our previous studies, we have identified the stretcher in our laser system as the source of CP. In order to underpin the true origins of CP, we have quantitatively characterised the surface quality of large optics used in the Gemini laser stretcher, where the laser beam is spatially dispersed and the spectral phase noise is induced by the optical surface roughness. We have measured the surface profiles of 2 different gold gratings, the new and old grating, and back mirror to a very high precision (~ a fraction of nm) by using ZYGO Dynafiz, with a spatial resolution of ~50µm over a width up to ~320mm, an unprecedented combination of very high spatial resolution with a very wide field of view. The surface roughness of the large curved mirror was determined experimentally. We have developed a simple physical model to deal with the influence of the surface roughness on the contrast pedestal. Based on the measured surface profiles and by taking the actual laser beam size into account, we are able to determine the spectral phase noise induced by the optical surface roughness in the stretcher. Consequently, we are able to accurately evaluate the impact of individual large optics in the stretcher and an overall impact of the stretcher on the contrast pedestal. The calculated contrast induced by both stretches with the new and old gratings are in an excellent agreement with the experimental results measured by the Sequoia scan. For the stretcher with the old grating, the grating is the dominant impact factor on the contrast. However, for the stretcher with the new gold grating of higher quality, the impact of the curved mirror on the contrast is comparable to that of grating. This implies that the influence of curved mirror on the contrast pedestal becomes more significant when the surface quality of grating is further improved. It is clearly observed that the impact of back mirror on the contrast is more than one order of magnitude lower than that of gratings and also much lower than that of curved mirror.
In conclusion, we have demonstrated a novel method to evaluate the impact of large optics in the stretcher on the contrast pedestal by precisely quantitative characterization of optical surface quality. It is possible to accurately predict the contrast pedestal based on the stretcher configuration and precise characterisation of the optical surface in the stretcher prior to the construction of actual CPA high power laser system.
The laser wake-field accelerator (LWFA) traditionally produces high brightness, quasi-monoenergetic electron beams with Gaussian-like spatial and angular distributions. In the present work we investigate the generation of ultra-relativistic beams with ring-like structures in the blowout regime of the LWFA using a dual stage accelerator. A density down-ramp triggers injection after the first stage and is used to produce ring-like electron spectra in the 300 - 600 MeV energy range. These well defined, annular beams are observed simultaneously with the on-axis, high energy electron beams, with a divergence of a few milliradians. The rings have quasi-monoenergetic energy spectra with an RMS spread estimated to be less than 5%. Particle-in-cell simulations confirm that off-axis injection provides the electrons with the initial transverse momentum necessary to undertake distinct betatron oscillations within the plasma bubble during their acceleration process.
The laser-plasma wakefield accelerator is a novel ultra-compact particle accelerator. A very intense laser pulse focused onto plasma can excites plasma density waves. Electrons surfing these waves can be accelerated to very high energies with unprecedented accelerating gradients in excess of 1 GV/cm. While accelerating, electrons undergo transverse betatron oscillations and emit synchrotron-like x-ray radiation into a narrow on-axis cone, which is enhanced when electrons interact with the electromagnetic field of the laser. In this case, the laser can resonantly drive the electron motion, lading to direct laser acceleration. This occurs when the betatron frequency matches the Doppler down-shifted frequency of the laser. As a consequence, the number of photons emitted is strongly enhanced and the critical photon energy is increases to 100’s of keV.
The requirement from large scale facilities for high repetition rate operations is rapidly approaching, and is increasingly
important for studies into high intensity secondary source generation, QED studies and the push for inertial confinement
fusion. It is envisioned that multiple PW systems at high repetition rates will be built for projects such as the European
Extreme Light Infrastructure project. Depending on the interaction physics involved, a number of differing parameters in
the interaction increase in importance, including positioning accuracy and target surface quality, and to ensure
reproducible optimum interaction conditions, presents a significant problem for accurate target positioning. With these
requirements in mind, a co-ordinated project is underway at the Central Laser Facility amongst the experimental science,
engineering and target fabrication groups, to tackle some of the challenges that we as a community face in working
towards high repetition rate operations. Here we present the latest work being undertaken at the CLF to improve
capability in key areas of this project, specifically in the areas of reliable motion control and rapid target positioning.
The drive to ever higher intensities and the move to shorter focal length reflective optics for focussing in solid target
interactions are increasingly important for studies into high intensity secondary source generation, QED and high field
studies. To ensure reproducible optimum interaction conditions, presents a significant problem for accurate target
positioning. Commercial optical systems exist to aid the imaging and positioning of targets. However, these are often
expensive and difficult to situate within the limited space usually available inside the interaction chamber.
At the Astra-Gemini system of the Central Laser Facility, the push for intensities above I = 1021 Wcm-2 with f/2 and f/1
focussing optics means positioning targets within the Rayleigh range of < few microns. Here, we present details of two
systems to be implemented on the Astra-Gemini system to cheaply and accurately position targets with ≈ micron
accuracy. These involve:- (i) a multi-wavelength interferometer to enable sub-micron accuracy in the positioning of the
front surface at the interaction point within the Rayleigh range and (ii) a small, low cost near field/far field microscope
with illumination at 800nm (the same as the Gemini IR beam) for imaging the rear of the target and the focal plane with
high resolution. The combination of these two systems significantly improves our accuracy in target positioning and also
results in a decrease in the time required to align targets between shots.
Petra Koester, Nicola Booth, Carlo Cecchetti, Hui Chen, Roger Evans, Gianluca Gregori, Luca Labate, Tadzio Levato, Bin Li, Mikako Makita, James Mithen, Chris Murphy, Margaret Notley, Rajeev Pattathil, David Riley, Nigel Woolsey, Leonida Gizzi
A detailed knowledge of the physical phenomena underlying the generation and the transport of fast electrons
generated in high-intensity laser-matter interactions is of fundamental importance for the fast ignition scheme
for inertial confinement fusion.
Here we report on an experiment carried out with the VULCAN Petawatt beam and aimed at investigating
the role of collisional return currents in the dynamics of the fast electron beam. To that scope, in the experiment
counter-propagating electron beams were generated by double-sided irradiation of layered target foils containing
a Ti layer. The experimental results were obtained for different time delays between the two laser beams as
well as for single-sided irradiation of the target foils. The main diagnostics consisted of two bent mica crystal
spectrometers placed at either side of the target foil. High-resolution X-ray spectra of the Ti emission lines in
the range from the Lyα to the Kα line were recorded. In addition, 2D X-ray images with spectral resolution were
obtained by means of a novel diagnostic technique, the energy-encoded pin-hole camera, based on the use of a
pin-hole array equipped with a CCD detector working in single-photon regime. The spectroscopic measurements
suggest a higher target temperature for well-aligned laser beams and a precise timing between the two beams.
The experimental results are presented and compared to simulation results.
J. Green, M. Borghesi, C. Brenner, D. Carroll, N. Dover, P. Foster, P. Gallegos, S. Green, D. Kirby, K. J. Kirkby, P. McKenna, M. Merchant, Z. Najmudin, C. A. Palmer, D. Parker, R. Prasad, K. Quinn, P. P. Rajeev, M. Read, L. Romagnani, J. Schreiber, M. Streeter, O. Tresca, C.-G. Wahlström, M. Zepf, David Neely
Next generation intense, short-pulse laser facilities require new high repetition rate diagnostics for the detection of
ionizing radiation. We have designed a new scintillator-based ion beam profiler capable of measuring the ion beam
transverse profile for a number of discrete energy ranges. The optical response and emission characteristics of four
common plastic scintillators has been investigated for a range of proton energies and fluxes. The scintillator light output
(for 1 MeV > Ep < 28 MeV) was found to have a non-linear scaling with proton energy but a linear response to incident
flux. Initial measurements with a prototype diagnostic have been successful, although further calibration work is required
to characterize the total system response and limitations under the high flux, short pulse duration conditions of a typical
high intensity laser-plasma interaction.
Self-organized nanostructures have been recently observed when femtosecond laser pulses were focused inside fused silica glass. We have shown that these nanostructures extend throughout the focal volume and their order is preserved over macroscopic distances when the focus is scanned. We discuss the present understanding of the formation of the nanostructures including a model based on transient nanoplasmonics. The model predicts the periodicity of nanoplanes to scale as λ/2 in the medium. This is experimentally verified at 800 nm and 400 nm light with which we obtain nanoplane spacing of 250 ± 20 nm and 140 ± 20 nm respectively, which scale as predicted. Another requirement of the model is that ionization occurs preferentially at regions that have previously been ionized. This allows an initially inhomogeneous plasma to develop into an ordered nanoplasma array. Using transmission measurements we show that the required "memory" exists in the case of fused silica.
We report observations of intense x-ray emission from solid targets excited by Ti:sapphire laser pulse of 1-fs duration and intensities up to 1016 W cm-2. We measured characteristic and continuum emission. X-ray emission and plasmas temperature were studied for s, p, and circular polarization states of the input laser beam. We find that circularly polarized light generates the least electron temperature compared to s and p polarizations. To complement these observations, single beam reflection from laser produced plasmas as measured. P-polarized light is reflected least, followed by circular and s-polarized light in that order. We believe that the circularly polarized light coupled into channels other than the heating of electrons even though it is absorbed more than the s-polarized case. We have also carried out x-ray emission studies with longer input pulses and find that the spectrum is mostly line emission with hardly any continuum.
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