Channel optimization of high-intensity laser beams in millimeter-scale plasmas
Physical Review E American Physical Society 97:4 (2018) 043208
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 μ m ) 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.AWAKE readiness for the study of the seeded self-modulation of a 400GeV proton bunch
PLASMA PHYSICS AND CONTROLLED FUSION 60:1 (2017) ARTN 014046
Attosecond-scale absorption at extreme intensities
Physics of Plasmas AIP Publishing 24:11 (2017) 113103
Abstract:
A novel non-ponderomotive absorption mechanism, originally presented by Baeva et al. [Phys. Plasmas 18, 056702 (2011)] in one dimension, is extended into higher dimensions for the first time. This absorption mechanism, the Zero Vector Potential (ZVP), is expected to dominate the interactions of ultra-intense laser pulses with critically over-dense plasmas such as those that are expected with the Extreme Light Infrastructure laser systems. It is shown that the mathematical form of the ZVP mechanism and its key scaling relations found by Baeva et al. in 1D are identically reproduced in higher dimensions. The two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are then used to validate both the qualitative and quantitative predictions of the theory.Observation of extremely strong shock waves in solids launched by petawatt laser heating
PHYSICS OF PLASMAS 24:8 (2017) ARTN 083115
Brilliant X-rays using a two-stage plasma insertion device
Scientific Reports Springer Nature 7:1 (2017) 3985