Prof Peter Norreys FInstP;

Abstract:

Photon acceleration is the phenomenon whereby a light wave changes color when propagating through a medium whose index of refraction changes in time. This concept can be used to describe the spectral changes experienced by electromagnetic waves when they propagate in spatially and temporally varying plasmas. In this paper the detection of a large-amplitude laser-driven wake field is reported for the first time, demonstrating photon acceleration. Several features characteristic of photon acceleration in wake fields, such as splitting of the main spectral peak and asymmetries between the blueshift and redshift for large shifts, have been observed. The experiment is modeled using both a novel photon-kinetic code and a three-dimensional particle-in-cell code. In addition to the wide-ranging applications in the field of compact particle accelerators, the concept of wave kinetics can be applied to understanding phenomena in nonlinear optics, space physics, and fusion energy research. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Abstract:

The physics of the interaction of high-intensity laser pulses with underdense plasma depends not only on the interaction intensity but also on the laser pulse length. We show experimentally that as intensities are increased beyond 1020 W cm-2 the peak electron acceleration increases beyond that which can be produced from single stage plasma wave acceleration and it is likely that direct laser acceleration mechanisms begin to play an important role. If, alternatively, the pulse length is reduced such that it approaches the plasma period of a relativistic electron plasma wave, high-power interactions at much lower intensity enable the generation of quasi-mono-energetic beams of relativistic electrons. © 2006 The Royal Society.

Abstract:

The properties of four-wave interaction via the nonlinear quantum vacuum is investigated. The effect of the quantum vacuum is to generate photons with new frequencies and wave vectors, due to elastic photon-photon scattering. An expression for the number of generated photons is derived, and using state-of-the-art laser data it is found that the number of photons can reach detectable levels. In particular, the prospect of using the high-repetition Astra Gemini system at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory is discussed. The problem of noise sources is reviewed, and it is found that the noise level can be reduced well below the signal level. Thus, detection of elastic photon-photon scattering may for the first time be achieved. © 2006 The American Physical Society.

Abstract:

Electron energy transport experiments conducted on the Vulcan 100 TW laser facility with large area foil targets are described. For plastic targets it is shown, by the plasma expansion observed in shadowgrams taken after the interaction, that there is a transition between the collimated electron flow previously reported at the 10 TW power level to an annular electron flow pattern with a 20° divergence angle for peak powers of 68 TW. Intermediate powers show that both the central collimated flow pattern and the surrounding annular-shaped heated region can co-exist. The measurements are consistent with the Davies rigid beam model for fast electron flow (Davies 2003 Phys. Rev. E 68 056404) and LSP modelling provides additional insight into the observed results. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd.