Professor Simon Hooker

Abstract:

We present the status of optical field ionization soft X-ray lasers. The amplifying medium is generated by focusing a high-energy circularly polarized 30-fs 10-Hz Ti: sapphire laser system in a gaseous medium. Using xenon or krypton, strong laser emission at 41.8 and 32.8 nm, respectively, has been observed. After presenting the basis of the physics, we present recent characterization of the sources as well as dramatic improvement of their performances using the waveguiding technique.

Abstract:

In many cases the length over which particles can be accelerated in a laser-driven plasma accelerator is limited by refraction or diffraction of the driving laser pulse. In order to overcome this limitation the driving pulse must be guided or channeled through the plasma, In this paper we briefly review of the techniques used to guide laser pulses with peak intensities up to 10(19) W cm(-2), and describe recent experimental results.

Abstract:

The application of the gas-filled capillary discharge waveguide to laser-plasma accelerators is reviewed. The results of experiments to guide high-intensity laser pulses in capillaries with circular or square cross-sections are described. The relation between capillary diameter, guided spot size, and plasma density are explored, and a possible new hybrid regime of guiding is identified.

Abstract:

A molecular-dynamic (MD) code for calculating the relaxation of an arbitrary electron energy distribution in a plasma was described. The MD approach provided a more fundamental set of equations, with fewer assumptions. The accuracy of the MD approach was proved by comparing its results with the Monte Carlo and Fokker-Planck codes using a set of plasma parameters for which the Fokker-Planck calculation gave incorrect results. Calculating energy relaxation in plasmas proved important for the understanding of the operation of new types of short-wavelength lasers based on optical field ionization.