1
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Shi Y, Blackman D, Stutman D, Arefiev A. Generation of Ultrarelativistic Monoenergetic Electron Bunches via a Synergistic Interaction of Longitudinal Electric and Magnetic Fields of a Twisted Laser. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2021; 126:234801. [PMID: 34170174 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.126.234801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Revised: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We use 3D simulations to demonstrate that high-quality ultrarelativistic electron bunches can be generated on reflection of a twisted laser beam off a plasma mirror. The unique topology of the beam with a twist index |l|=1 creates an accelerating structure dominated by longitudinal laser electric and magnetic fields in the near-axis region. We show that the magnetic field is essential for creating a train of dense monoenergetic bunches. For a 6.8 PW laser, the energy reaches 1.6 GeV with a spread of 5.5%. The bunch duration is 320 as, its charge is 60 pC, and density is ∼10^{27} m^{-3}. The results are confirmed by an analytical model for the electron energy gain. These results enable development of novel laser-driven accelerators at multi-PW laser facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Shi
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Jinzhai Road 96, Hefei 230026, China
| | - David Blackman
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Dan Stutman
- Extreme Light Infrastructure-Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP)/Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 077125 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA
| | - Alexey Arefiev
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
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2
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Arefiev A, Gong Z, Robinson APL. Energy gain by laser-accelerated electrons in a strong magnetic field. Phys Rev E 2020; 101:043201. [PMID: 32422732 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.101.043201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This paper deals with electron acceleration by a laser pulse in a plasma with a static uniform magnetic field B_{*}. The laser pulse propagates perpendicular to the magnetic field lines with the polarization chosen such that (E_{laser}·B_{*})=0. The focus of the work is on the electrons with an appreciable initial transverse momentum that are unable to gain significant energy from the laser in the absence of the magnetic field due to strong dephasing. It is shown that the magnetic field can initiate an energy increase by rotating such an electron, so that its momentum becomes directed forward. The energy gain continues well beyond this turning point where the dephasing drops to a very small value. In contrast to the case of purely vacuum acceleration, the electron experiences a rapid energy increases with the analytically derived maximum energy gain dependent on the strength of the magnetic field and the phase velocity of the wave. The energy enhancement by the magnetic field can be useful at high laser amplitudes, a_{0}≫1, where the acceleration similar to that in the vacuum is unable to produce energetic electrons over just tens of microns. A strong magnetic field helps leverage an increase in a_{0} without a significant increase in the interaction length.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Arefiev
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA and Center for Energy Research, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - Z Gong
- SKLNPT, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China and Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
| | - A P L Robinson
- Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
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3
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Kasim MF, Bott AFA, Tzeferacos P, Lamb DQ, Gregori G, Vinko SM. Retrieving fields from proton radiography without source profiles. Phys Rev E 2019; 100:033208. [PMID: 31639953 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.100.033208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Proton radiography is a technique in high-energy density science to diagnose magnetic and/or electric fields in a plasma by firing a proton beam and detecting its modulated intensity profile on a screen. Current approaches to retrieve the integrated field from the modulated intensity profile require the unmodulated beam intensity profile before the interaction, which is rarely available experimentally due to shot-to-shot variability. In this paper, we present a statistical method to retrieve the integrated field without needing to know the exact source profile. We apply our method to experimental data, showing the robustness of our approach. Our proposed technique allows for the retrieval not only of the path-integrated fields, but also of the statistical properties of the fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- M F Kasim
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - A F A Bott
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - P Tzeferacos
- Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago, 5640 S. Ellis Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - D Q Lamb
- Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, University of Chicago, 5640 S. Ellis Ave, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
| | - G Gregori
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - S M Vinko
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
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4
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Davidson ZE, Gonzalez-Izquierdo B, Higginson A, Lancaster KL, Williamson SDR, King M, Farley D, Neely D, McKenna P, Gray RJ. An optically multiplexed single-shot time-resolved probe of laser-plasma dynamics. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:4416-4423. [PMID: 30876060 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.004416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 01/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We introduce a new approach to temporally resolve ultrafast micron-scale processes via the use of a multi-channel optical probe. We demonstrate that this technique enables highly precise time-resolved, two-dimensional spatial imaging of intense laser pulse propagation dynamics, plasma formation and laser beam filamentation within a single pulse over four distinct time frames. The design, development and optimization of the optical probe system is presented, as are representative experimental results from the first implementation of the multi-channel probe with a high-power laser pulse interaction with a helium gas jet target.
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5
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Obst-Huebl L, Ziegler T, Brack FE, Branco J, Bussmann M, Cowan TE, Curry CB, Fiuza F, Garten M, Gauthier M, Göde S, Glenzer SH, Huebl A, Irman A, Kim JB, Kluge T, Kraft SD, Kroll F, Metzkes-Ng J, Pausch R, Prencipe I, Rehwald M, Roedel C, Schlenvoigt HP, Schramm U, Zeil K. All-optical structuring of laser-driven proton beam profiles. Nat Commun 2018; 9:5292. [PMID: 30546015 PMCID: PMC6294339 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07756-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Extreme field gradients intrinsic to relativistic laser-interactions with thin solid targets enable compact MeV proton accelerators with unique bunch characteristics. Yet, direct control of the proton beam profile is usually not possible. Here we present a readily applicable all-optical approach to imprint detailed spatial information from the driving laser pulse onto the proton bunch. In a series of experiments, counter-intuitively, the spatial profile of the energetic proton bunch was found to exhibit identical structures as the fraction of the laser pulse passing around a target of limited size. Such information transfer between the laser pulse and the naturally delayed proton bunch is attributed to the formation of quasi-static electric fields in the beam path by ionization of residual gas. Essentially acting as a programmable memory, these fields provide access to a higher level of proton beam manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieselotte Obst-Huebl
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany. .,Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany.
| | - Tim Ziegler
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Florian-Emanuel Brack
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - João Branco
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Michael Bussmann
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas E Cowan
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Chandra B Curry
- High Energy Density Science Division, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA.,University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Frederico Fiuza
- High Energy Density Science Division, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Marco Garten
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maxence Gauthier
- High Energy Density Science Division, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Sebastian Göde
- European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869, Schenefeld, Germany
| | - Siegfried H Glenzer
- High Energy Density Science Division, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Axel Huebl
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Arie Irman
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jongjin B Kim
- High Energy Density Science Division, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | - Thomas Kluge
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stephan D Kraft
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Florian Kroll
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Josefine Metzkes-Ng
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Richard Pausch
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Irene Prencipe
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Rehwald
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Hans-Peter Schlenvoigt
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schramm
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany.,Technische Universität Dresden, 01062, Dresden, Germany
| | - Karl Zeil
- Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden - Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328, Dresden, Germany
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6
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Abstract
Compact acceleration of a tightly collimated relativistic electron beam with high charge from a laser-plasma interaction has many unique applications. However, currently the well-known schemes, including laser wakefield acceleration from gases and vacuum laser acceleration from solids, often produce electron beams either with low charge or with large divergence angles. In this work, we report the generation of highly collimated electron beams with a divergence angle of a few degrees, nonthermal spectra peaked at the megaelectronvolt level, and extremely high charge (∼100 nC) via a powerful subpicosecond laser pulse interacting with a solid target in grazing incidence. Particle-in-cell simulations illustrate a direct laser acceleration scenario, in which the self-filamentation is triggered in a large-scale near-critical-density plasma and electron bunches are accelerated periodically and collimated by the ultraintense electromagnetic field. The energy density of such electron beams in high-Z materials reaches to [Formula: see text], making it a promising tool to drive warm or even hot dense matter states.
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7
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Ceurvorst L, Savin A, Ratan N, Kasim MF, Sadler J, Norreys PA, Habara H, Tanaka KA, Zhang S, Wei MS, Ivancic S, Froula DH, Theobald W. Channel optimization of high-intensity laser beams in millimeter-scale plasmas. Phys Rev E 2018; 97:043208. [PMID: 29758617 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.97.043208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Channeling experiments were performed at the OMEGA EP facility using relativistic intensity (>10^{18}W/cm^{2}) kilojoule laser pulses through large density scale length (∼390-570 μm) laser-produced plasmas, demonstrating the effects of the pulse's focal location and intensity as well as the plasma's temperature on the resulting channel formation. The results show deeper channeling when focused into hot plasmas and at lower densities, as expected. However, contrary to previous large-scale particle-in-cell studies, the results also indicate deeper penetration by short (10 ps), intense pulses compared to their longer-duration equivalents. This new observation has many implications for future laser-plasma research in the relativistic regime.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Ceurvorst
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU United Kingdom
| | - A Savin
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU United Kingdom
| | - N Ratan
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU United Kingdom
| | - M F Kasim
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU United Kingdom
| | - J Sadler
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU United Kingdom
| | - P A Norreys
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU United Kingdom
- STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0QX United Kingdom
| | - H Habara
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - K A Tanaka
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- ELI-NP/IFIN-HH, 30 Reactorului Street, Magurele, Ilfov County, P. O. Box MG-6, 077125 Romania
| | - S Zhang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA
| | - M S Wei
- General Atomics, San Diego, California 92121, USA
| | - S Ivancic
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - D H Froula
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - W Theobald
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
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8
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Huang TW, Zhou CT, Zhang H, Wu SZ, Qiao B, He XT, Ruan SC. Relativistic laser hosing instability suppression and electron acceleration in a preformed plasma channel. Phys Rev E 2017; 95:043207. [PMID: 28505773 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.95.043207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The hosing processes of a relativistic laser pulse, electron acceleration, and betatron radiation in a parabolic plasma channel are investigated in the direct laser acceleration regime. It is shown that the laser hosing instability would result in the generation of a randomly directed off-axis electron beam and radiation source with a large divergence angle. While employing a preformed parabolic plasma channel, the restoring force provided by the plasma channel would correct the perturbed laser wave front and thus suppress the hosing instability. As a result, the accelerated electron beam and the emitted photons are well guided and concentrated along the channel axis. The employment of a proper plasma density channel can stably guide the relativistically intense laser pulse and greatly improve the properties of the electron beam and radiation source. This scheme is of great interest for the generation of high quality electron beams and radiation sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- T W Huang
- College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - C T Zhou
- College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, People's Republic of China.,College of New Energy and New Materials, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, People's Republic of China.,HEDPS, Center for Applied Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, People's Republic of China
| | - H Zhang
- Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, People's Republic of China
| | - S Z Wu
- Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, People's Republic of China
| | - B Qiao
- HEDPS, Center for Applied Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - X T He
- HEDPS, Center for Applied Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, People's Republic of China
| | - S C Ruan
- College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, People's Republic of China.,College of New Energy and New Materials, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen 518118, People's Republic of China
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9
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Chen NFY, Kasim MF, Ceurvorst L, Ratan N, Sadler J, Levy MC, Trines R, Bingham R, Norreys P. Machine learning applied to proton radiography of high-energy-density plasmas. Phys Rev E 2017; 95:043305. [PMID: 28505758 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.95.043305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2016] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Proton radiography is a technique extensively used to resolve magnetic field structures in high-energy-density plasmas, revealing a whole variety of interesting phenomena such as magnetic reconnection and collisionless shocks found in astrophysical systems. Existing methods of analyzing proton radiographs give mostly qualitative results or specific quantitative parameters, such as magnetic field strength, and recent work showed that the line-integrated transverse magnetic field can be reconstructed in specific regimes where many simplifying assumptions were needed. Using artificial neural networks, we demonstrate for the first time 3D reconstruction of magnetic fields in the nonlinear regime, an improvement over existing methods, which reconstruct only in 2D and in the linear regime. A proof of concept is presented here, with mean reconstruction errors of less than 5% even after introducing noise. We demonstrate that over the long term, this approach is more computationally efficient compared to other techniques. We also highlight the need for proton tomography because (i) certain field structures cannot be reconstructed from a single radiograph and (ii) errors can be further reduced when reconstruction is performed on radiographs generated by proton beams fired in different directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas F Y Chen
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | | | - Luke Ceurvorst
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - Naren Ratan
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - James Sadler
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew C Levy
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - Raoul Trines
- STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Bingham
- STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Norreys
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
- STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
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10
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Kasim MF, Ceurvorst L, Ratan N, Sadler J, Chen N, Sävert A, Trines R, Bingham R, Burrows PN, Kaluza MC, Norreys P. Quantitative shadowgraphy and proton radiography for large intensity modulations. Phys Rev E 2017; 95:023306. [PMID: 28297858 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.95.023306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Shadowgraphy is a technique widely used to diagnose objects or systems in various fields in physics and engineering. In shadowgraphy, an optical beam is deflected by the object and then the intensity modulation is captured on a screen placed some distance away. However, retrieving quantitative information from the shadowgrams themselves is a challenging task because of the nonlinear nature of the process. Here, we present a method to retrieve quantitative information from shadowgrams, based on computational geometry. This process can also be applied to proton radiography for electric and magnetic field diagnosis in high-energy-density plasmas and has been benchmarked using a toroidal magnetic field as the object, among others. It is shown that the method can accurately retrieve quantitative parameters with error bars less than 10%, even when caustics are present. The method is also shown to be robust enough to process real experimental results with simple pre- and postprocessing techniques. This adds a powerful tool for research in various fields in engineering and physics for both techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luke Ceurvorst
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - Naren Ratan
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - James Sadler
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas Chen
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander Sävert
- Institut für Optik und Quantenelektronik, Abbe-Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, 07743 Jena, Germany.,Helmholtz-Institut Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Raoul Trines
- STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Bingham
- STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - Philip N Burrows
- John Adams Institute, Denys Wilkinson Building, Keble Road, Oxford OX1 3RH, United Kingdom
| | - Malte C Kaluza
- Institut für Optik und Quantenelektronik, Abbe-Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, 07743 Jena, Germany.,Helmholtz-Institut Jena, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Peter Norreys
- Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom.,STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
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11
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Huang TW, Robinson APL, Zhou CT, Qiao B, Liu B, Ruan SC, He XT, Norreys PA. Characteristics of betatron radiation from direct-laser-accelerated electrons. Phys Rev E 2016; 93:063203. [PMID: 27415373 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.93.063203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Betatron radiation from direct-laser-accelerated electrons is characterized analytically and numerically. It is shown here that the electron dynamics is strongly dependent on a self-similar parameter S(≡n_{e}/n_{c}a_{0}). Both the electron transverse momentum and energy are proportional to the normalized amplitude of laser field (a_{0}) for a fixed value of S. As a result, the total number of radiated photons scales as a_{0}^{2}/sqrt[S] and the energy conversion efficiency of photons from the accelerated electrons scales as a_{0}^{3}/S. The particle-in-cell simulations agree well with the analytical scalings. It is suggested that a tunable high-energy and high-flux radiation source can be achieved by exploiting this regime.
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Affiliation(s)
- T W Huang
- HEDPS, Center for Applied Physics and Technology and School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.,Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - A P L Robinson
- Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - C T Zhou
- HEDPS, Center for Applied Physics and Technology and School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, People's Republic of China.,College of Electronic Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - B Qiao
- HEDPS, Center for Applied Physics and Technology and School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
| | - B Liu
- HEDPS, Center for Applied Physics and Technology and School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, People's Republic of China
| | - S C Ruan
- College of Electronic Science and Technology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - X T He
- HEDPS, Center for Applied Physics and Technology and School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Applied Physics and Computational Mathematics, Beijing 100094, People's Republic of China
| | - P A Norreys
- Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford-Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, OX11 0QX, United Kingdom.,Clarendon Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
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12
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He ZH, Hou B, Lebailly V, Nees JA, Krushelnick K, Thomas AGR. Coherent control of plasma dynamics. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7156. [PMID: 25975737 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Coherent control of a system involves steering an interaction to a final coherent state by controlling the phase of an applied field. Plasmas support coherent wave structures that can be generated by intense laser fields. Here, we demonstrate the coherent control of plasma dynamics in a laser wakefield electron acceleration experiment. A genetic algorithm is implemented using a deformable mirror with the electron beam signal as feedback, which allows a heuristic search for the optimal wavefront under laser-plasma conditions that is not known a priori. We are able to improve both the electron beam charge and angular distribution by an order of magnitude. These improvements do not simply correlate with having the 'best' focal spot, as the highest quality vacuum focal spot produces a greatly inferior electron beam, but instead correspond to the particular laser phase front that steers the plasma wave to a final state with optimal accelerating fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z-H He
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2099, USA
| | - B Hou
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2099, USA
| | - V Lebailly
- Polytech Paris-Sud-Université Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - J A Nees
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2099, USA
| | - K Krushelnick
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2099, USA
| | - A G R Thomas
- Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2099, USA
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13
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Ivancic S, Haberberger D, Habara H, Iwawaki T, Anderson KS, Craxton RS, Froula DH, Meyerhofer DD, Stoeckl C, Tanaka KA, Theobald W. Channeling of multikilojoule high-intensity laser beams in an inhomogeneous plasma. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2015; 91:051101. [PMID: 26066111 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.91.051101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Channeling experiments were performed that demonstrate the transport of high-intensity (>10(18)W/cm(2)), multikilojoule laser light through a millimeter-sized, inhomogeneous (∼300-μm density scale length) laser-produced plasma up to overcritical density, which is an important step forward for the fast-ignition concept. The background plasma density and the density depression inside the channel were characterized with a novel optical probe system. The channel progression velocity was measured, which agrees well with theoretical predictions based on large scale particle-in-cell simulations, confirming scaling laws for the required channeling laser energy and laser pulse duration, which are important parameters for future integrated fast-ignition channeling experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ivancic
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - D Haberberger
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - H Habara
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - T Iwawaki
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - K S Anderson
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - R S Craxton
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - D H Froula
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - D D Meyerhofer
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - C Stoeckl
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
| | - K A Tanaka
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - W Theobald
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14623, USA
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14
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Levy MC, Ryutov DD, Wilks SC, Ross JS, Huntington CM, Fiuza F, Martinez DA, Kugland NL, Baring MG, Park HS. Development of an interpretive simulation tool for the proton radiography technique. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2015; 86:033302. [PMID: 25832218 DOI: 10.1063/1.4909536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Proton radiography is a useful diagnostic of high energy density (HED) plasmas under active theoretical and experimental development. In this paper, we describe a new simulation tool that interacts realistic laser-driven point-like proton sources with three dimensional electromagnetic fields of arbitrary strength and structure and synthesizes the associated high resolution proton radiograph. The present tool's numerical approach captures all relevant physics effects, including effects related to the formation of caustics. Electromagnetic fields can be imported from particle-in-cell or hydrodynamic codes in a streamlined fashion, and a library of electromagnetic field "primitives" is also provided. This latter capability allows users to add a primitive, modify the field strength, rotate a primitive, and so on, while quickly generating a high resolution radiograph at each step. In this way, our tool enables the user to deconstruct features in a radiograph and interpret them in connection to specific underlying electromagnetic field elements. We show an example application of the tool in connection to experimental observations of the Weibel instability in counterstreaming plasmas, using ∼10(8) particles generated from a realistic laser-driven point-like proton source, imaging fields which cover volumes of ∼10 mm(3). Insights derived from this application show that the tool can support understanding of HED plasmas.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Levy
- Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom
| | - D D Ryutov
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - S C Wilks
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - J S Ross
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - C M Huntington
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - F Fiuza
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - D A Martinez
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
| | - N L Kugland
- Lam Research Corporation, 4400 Cushing Parkway, Fremont, California 94538, USA
| | - M G Baring
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - H-S Park
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94551, USA
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15
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Uematsu Y, Ivancic S, Iwawaki T, Habara H, Lei AL, Theobald W, Tanaka KA. Measuring the strong electrostatic and magnetic fields with proton radiography for ultra-high intensity laser channeling on fast ignition. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2014; 85:11E612. [PMID: 25430358 DOI: 10.1063/1.4890575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In order to investigate the intense laser propagation and channel formation in dense plasma, we conducted an experiment with proton deflectometry on the OMEGA EP Laser facility. The proton image was analyzed by tracing the trajectory of mono-energetic protons, which provides understanding the electric and magnetic fields that were generated around the channel. The estimated field strengths (E ∼ 10(11) V/m and B ∼ 10(8) G) agree with the predictions from 2D-Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, indicating the feasibility of the proton deflectometry technique for over-critical density plasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Uematsu
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - S Ivancic
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - T Iwawaki
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - H Habara
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - A L Lei
- Shanghai Institute of Laser Plasma, 201800 Shanghai, China
| | - W Theobald
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, 250 East River Road, Rochester, New York 14623-1299, USA
| | - K A Tanaka
- Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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16
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Naseri N, Pesme D, Rozmus W, Bychenkov V, Popov K. Channeling of relativistic laser pulses in underdense plasmas and subsequent electron acceleration. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2013. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/20135917001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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17
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Li G, Mori WB, Ren C. Laser hosing in relativistically hot plasmas. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2013; 110:155002. [PMID: 25167277 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.110.155002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2012] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Electron response in an intense laser is studied in the regime where the electron temperature is relativistic. Equations for laser envelope and plasma density evolution, both in the electron plasma wave and ion acoustic wave regimes, are rederived from the relativistic fluid equations to include relativistic plasma temperature effect. These equations are used to study short-pulse and long-pulse laser hosing instabilities using a variational method approach. The analysis shows that relativistic electron temperatures reduce the hosing growth rates and shift the fastest-growing modes to longer wavelengths. These results resolve a long-standing discrepancy between previous nonrelativistic theory and simulations or experiments on hosing.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
| | - W B Mori
- Departments of Physics and Astronomy and Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - C Ren
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA and Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA
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18
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Kugland NL, Ryutov DD, Plechaty C, Ross JS, Park HS. Invited article: Relation between electric and magnetic field structures and their proton-beam images. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2012; 83:101301. [PMID: 23126744 DOI: 10.1063/1.4750234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Proton imaging is commonly used to reveal the electric and magnetic fields that are found in high energy density plasmas. Presented here is an analysis of this technique that is directed towards developing additional insight into the underlying physics. This approach considers: formation of images in the limits of weak and strong intensity variations; caustic formation and structure; image inversion to obtain line-integrated field characteristics; direct relations between images and electric or magnetic field structures in a plasma; imaging of sharp features such as Debye sheaths and shocks. Limitations on spatial and temporal resolution are assessed, and similarities with optical shadowgraphy are noted. Synthetic proton images are presented to illustrate the analysis. These results will be useful for quantitatively analyzing experimental proton imaging data and verifying numerical codes.
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Affiliation(s)
- N L Kugland
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94551, USA
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19
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Nakamura T, Koga JK, Esirkepov TZ, Kando M, Korn G, Bulanov SV. High-power γ-ray flash generation in ultraintense laser-plasma interactions. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2012; 108:195001. [PMID: 23003049 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.108.195001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2011] [Revised: 02/10/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
When high-intensity laser interaction with matter enters the regime of dominated radiation reaction, the radiation losses open the way for producing short pulse high-power γ-ray flashes. The γ-ray pulse duration and divergence are determined by the laser pulse amplitude and by the plasma target density scale length. On the basis of theoretical analysis and particle-in-cell simulations with the radiation friction force incorporated, optimal conditions for generating a γ-ray flash with a tailored overcritical density target are found.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsufumi Nakamura
- Kansai Photon Science Institute, Japan Atomic Energy Agency, Kizugawa, Kyoto, Japan 6190215
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20
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Naseri N, Pesme D, Rozmus W, Popov K. Channeling of relativistic laser pulses, surface waves, and electron acceleration. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2012; 108:105001. [PMID: 22463415 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.108.105001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The interaction of a high-energy relativistic laser pulse with an underdense plasma is studied by means of 3-dimensional particle in cell simulations and theoretical analysis. For powers above the threshold for channeling, the laser pulse propagates as a single mode in an electron-free channel during a time of the order of 1 picosecond. The steep laser front gives rise to the excitation of a surface wave along the sharp boundaries of the ion channel. The surface wave first traps electrons at the channel wall and preaccelerates them to relativistic energies. These particles then have enough energy to be further accelerated in a second stage through an interplay between the acceleration due to the betatron resonance and the acceleration caused by the longitudinal part of the surface wave electric field. It is necessary to introduce this two-stage process to explain the large number of high-energy electrons observed in the simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Naseri
- Theoretical Physics Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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21
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Zylstra AB, Li CK, Rinderknecht HG, Séguin FH, Petrasso RD, Stoeckl C, Meyerhofer DD, Nilson P, Sangster TC, Le Pape S, Mackinnon A, Patel P. Using high-intensity laser-generated energetic protons to radiograph directly driven implosions. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2012; 83:013511. [PMID: 22299955 DOI: 10.1063/1.3680110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The recent development of petawatt-class lasers with kilojoule-picosecond pulses, such as OMEGA EP [L. Waxer et al., Opt. Photonics News 16, 30 (2005)], provides a new diagnostic capability to study inertial-confinement-fusion (ICF) and high-energy-density (HED) plasmas. Specifically, petawatt OMEGA EP pulses have been used to backlight OMEGA implosions with energetic proton beams generated through the target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) mechanism. This allows time-resolved studies of the mass distribution and electromagnetic field structures in ICF and HED plasmas. This principle has been previously demonstrated using Vulcan to backlight six-beam implosions [A. J. Mackinnon et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 045001 (2006)]. The TNSA proton backlighter offers better spatial and temporal resolution but poorer spatial uniformity and energy resolution than previous D(3)He fusion-based techniques [C. Li et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77, 10E725 (2006)]. A target and the experimental design technique to mitigate potential problems in using TNSA backlighting to study full-energy implosions is discussed. The first proton radiographs of 60-beam spherical OMEGA implosions using the techniques discussed in this paper are presented. Sample radiographs and suggestions for troubleshooting failed radiography shots using TNSA backlighting are given, and future applications of this technique at OMEGA and the NIF are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Zylstra
- Plasma Science and Fusion Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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