Oxford Centre for High Energy Density Science (OxCHEDS)

Abstract:

A review is presented here of a number of invited papers presented at the 2008 American Physical Society April meeting [held jointly with High Energy Density Physics/High Energy Density Laboratory Astrophysics (HEDP/HEDLA) Conference] devoted to intense laser-matter interactions. They include new insights gained from wave-kinetic theory into laser-wakefield accelerators and drift wave turbulence interacting with zonal flows in magnetized plasmas; interactions with cluster media for the generation of radiative blast waves; fast electron energy transport in cone-wire targets; numerical investigations into Weibel instability in electron-positron-ion plasmas and the generation of gigabar pressures with thin foil interactions. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.

Abstract:

We present calculations of the free-free XUV opacity of warm, solid-density aluminum at photon energies between the plasma frequency at 15 eV and the L-edge at 73 eV, using both density functional theory combined with molecular dynamics and a semi-analytical model in the RPA framework with the inclusion of local field corrections. As the temperature is increased from room temperature to 10 eV, with the ion and electron temperatures equal, we calculate an increase in the opacity in the range over which the degree of ionization is constant. The effect is less pronounced if only the electron temperature is allowed to increase. The physical significance of these increases is discussed in terms of intense XUV-laser matter interactions on both femtosecond and picosecond time-scales.

Abstract:

We have performed short-pulse x-ray scattering measurements on laser-driven shock-compressed plastic samples in the warm dense matter regime, providing instantaneous snapshots of the system evolution. Time-resolved and angularly resolved scattered spectra sensitive to the correlation effects in the plasma show the appearance of short-range order within a few interionic separations. Comparison with radiation-hydrodynamic simulations indicates that the shocked plastic is compressed with a temperature of a few electron volts. These results are important for the understanding of the thermodynamic behavior of strongly correlated matter for conditions relevant to both laboratory astrophysics and inertial confinement fusion research. © 2009 The American Physical Society.

Abstract:

The development of new laser systems based on OPCPA will push Laser Wakefield Accelerators (LWFA) to a qualitatively new energy range. As in the past, numerical simulations will play a critical role in testing, probing and optimizing the physical parameters and setup of these upscale experiments. Based on the prospective design parameters for the future Vulcan 10 PW OPCPA laser system, we have determined the optimal parameters for a single LWFA stage from theoretical scalings for such system, which predict accelerations to the energy frontier, with self-injected electrons in excess of 10 GeV for a self-guided configuration, and above 50 GeV bunches with externally-injected electrons in a laser-guided configuration. These parameters were then used as a baseline for 3D full scale simulations with OSIRIS and QuickPIC. A 12 GeV self-injected beam was obtained with both codes, in agreement with theoretical predictions for the maximum energy gain and the injected charge. Preliminary results on the laser-guided configuration already confirm the accelerating gradients and the stability of the laser guided propagation for long distances required to reach the higher energies predicted by the theoretical scalings for this scenario. © 2009 American Institute of Physics.