Oxford Centre for High Energy Density Science (OxCHEDS)

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Studies of electron transport and isochoric heating and their applicability to fast ignition

Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications 2003 (2004) 353-358

Authors:

MH Key, F Amiranoff, C Andersen, D Batani, SD Baton, T Cowan, N Fisch, R Freeman, L Gremillet, T Hall, S Hatchett, J Hill, J King, R Kodama, J Koch, M Koenig, B Lasinski, B Langdon, A MacKinnon, E Martinolli, P Norreys, P Parks, E Perelli-Cippo, M Rabec Le Gloahec, M Rosenbluth, C Rousseaux, JJ Santon, F Scianitti, R Snavely, M Tabak, K Tanaka, R Town, T Tsutumi, R Stephens

Abstract:

Experimental measurements of electron transport and isochoric heating in 100 J, 1 ps laser irradiation of solid Al targets are presented. Modeling with a hybrid PIC code is compared with the data and good agreement is obtained using a heuristic model for the electron injection. The relevance for fast ignition is discussed.

TI K-alpha radiography of imploding CU doped CD shells and coned shells

Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications 2003 (2004) 449-452

Authors:

JA King, RR Freeman, MH Key, K Akli, M Borghesi, R Clarke, T Cowan, H Habara, H Heathcote, S Karsch, R Kodama, K Lancaster, A MacKinnon, C Murphy, P Norreys, P Patel, L Romagnani, R Snavely, R Stephens, C Stoeckl, Y Toyama, M Zepf, B Zhang

Abstract:

The Vulcan laser at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in England has been used to show, for the first time, that picosecond laser generated non-thermal K-alpha radiation can be used effectively as a backlighter for radiographic imaging of an implosion. This novel method of x-ray radiography features high temporal resolution, high signal to noise ratio and monochromatic imaging. We present here the Ti K-alpha backlit images of a series of six-beam driven spherical implosions of thin-walled 500 micron Cu doped CD shells. These images, separated by ∼ 0.5ns intervals, capture various states of implosion in and around a stagnation time observed to be ∼ 3.25 ns. Images of imploding coned Cu doped CD shells used in fast ignition research are additionally presented. These images, taken near the previously determined stagnation time, show an imploded core collapsed around an attached gold laser entry cone. These radiographic results were linked to a study of fast electron transport within imploded Cu doped coned CD shells as a result of interaction with a high intensity, short pulse laser. The radiographic results, then, served as a verification of a smooth and uniform implosion and provided an empirical determination of stagnation time, both prerequisites for the electron transport diagnosis.

The Vulcan Petawatt interaction facility

Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications 2003 (2004) 512-516

Authors:

CN Danson, PA Brummitt, J Collier, RJ Clark, M Dominey, CB Edwards, R Edwards, AJ Frackiewicz, JAC Govans, S Hancock, PE Hatton, S Hawkes, CR Heathcote, C Hernandez-Gomez, P Holligan, C Hooker, MHR Hutchinson, A Jackson, A Kidd, WJ Lester, J Monk, D Neely, DR Neville, P Norreys, M Notley, DA Pepler, MR Pitts, CJ Reason, D Robinson, KJ Rodgers, D Rose, IN Ross, AJ Ryder, MR Selley, D Shepherd, T Strange, M Tolley, R Wellstood, GN Wiggins, TB Winstone, PNM Wright, RWW Wyatt, BE Wyborn, C Ziener

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.

Vulcan petawatt - An ultra-high-intensity interaction facility

Nuclear Fusion 44:12 (2004)

Authors:

CN Danson, PA Brummitt, RJ Clarke, JL Collier, B Fell, AJ Frackiewicz, S Hancock, S Hawkes, C Hernandez-Gomez, P Holligan, MHR Hutchinson, A Kidd, WJ Lester, IO Musgrave, D Neely, DR Neville, PA Norreys, DA Pepler, CJ Reason, W Shaikh, TB Winstone, RWW Wyatt, BE Wyborn

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.
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High pressures generated by laser driven shocks: applications to planetary physics

Nuclear Fusion IOP Publishing 44:12 (2004) s208-s214

Authors:

M Koenig, E Henry, G Huser, A Benuzzi-Mounaix, B Faral, E Martinolli, S Lepape, T Vinci, D Batani, M Tomasini, B Telaro, P Loubeyre, T Hall, P Celliers, G Collins, L DaSilva, R Cauble, D Hicks, D Bradley, A MacKinnon, P Patel, J Eggert, J Pasley, O Willi, D Neely, M Notley, C Danson, M Borghesi, L Romagnani, T Boehly, K Lee
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