Prof Peter Norreys FInstP;

Abstract:

The Vulcan Nd:glass laser at the Central Laser Facility (CLF) has recently been upgraded to the Petawatt level (10 15 Watts). The facility is now operational to the UK and international user community. During the first user experiments, the power and focussed intensity were increased gradually up to the Petawatt regime. Considerable experience has been gained operating the Vulcan facility in this mode. The Petawatt facility is designed to deliver irradiance on target of 10 21 W.cm -2 for a wide-ranging experimental programme in fundamental physics and advanced applications. This includes the interaction of super-high intensity light with matter, fast ignition fusion research, photon induced nuclear reactions, electron and ion acceleration by light waves and the exploration of the exotic world of plasma physics dominated by relativity.

Abstract:

The Vulcan Nd: glass laser at the Central Laser Facility is a Petawatt (10¹⁵ W) interaction facility available to the UK and international user community. The facility came online to users in 2002 and considerable experience has been gained operating the Vulcan facility in this mode. The facility is designed to deliver irradiance on target of 10²¹ W cm^-2 for a wide-ranging experimental programme in fundamental physics and advanced applications. This includes the interaction of super-high-intensity light with matter, fast ignition fusion research, photon induced nuclear reactions, electron and ion acceleration by light waves and the exploration of the exotic world of plasma physics dominated by relativity.

Abstract:

The structure of the hot electron beams emitted in laser-solid target interactions was analyzed. It was observed that electron beams were emitted from the rear of thin solid targets irradiated by a high-intensity short-pulse laser. It was shown that the most important condition in which electron beam filamentation due to Weibel-like instabilities become a factor were situations where large regions of low-density plasma exist. The results suggest that Weibel-like instabilities might not be important for the fast-ignitor scheme.

Abstract:

Ion-acceleration processes were studied in ultraintense laser plasma interactions for normal incidence irradiation of solid targets. Neutron spectroscopy was used for the purpose of analysis. It was found that the ions are preferentially accelerated radially. Results show that the laser pedestal generates a 10 μm scale length in the coronal plasma with a 3 μm scale-length plasma near the critical density.