Oxford Centre for High Energy Density Science (OxCHEDS)

Research group

Research theme

Sub department

About

Related research groups

Table-top picosecond sources

Nature Springer Nature 398:6725 (1999) 284-285
More details from the publisher
More details
More details

Studies of the fast ignition route to inertial confinement fusion at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

Fusion Engineering and Design Elsevier 44:1-4 (1999) 239-243

Authors:

PA Norreys, M Bakarezos, L Barringer, M Borghesi, FN Beg, AR Bell, M Castro-Colins, D Chambers, AE Dangor, CN Danson, A Djaoui, AP Fews, R Galliard, P Gibbon, L Gizzi, ME Glinsky, BA Hammel, MH Key, P Lee, P Loukakos, AJ MacKinnon, C Meyer, J Meyer-ter-Vehn, S Moustaizis, SG Preston, A Pukhov, SJ Rose, M Tatarakis, JS Wark, O Willi, M Zepf, J Zhang
More details from the publisher

Studies of the fast ignition route to inertial confinement fusion at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory

FUSION ENG DES 44 (1999) 239-243

Authors:

PA Norreys, M Bakarezos, L Barringer, M Borghesi, FN Beg, M Castro-Colins, D Chambers, AE Dangor, CN Danson, A Djaoui, AP Fews, R Galliard, P Gibbon, L Gizzi, ME Glinsky, BA Hammel, MH Key, P Lee, P Loukakos, AJ MacKinnon, C Meyer, J Meyer-ter-Vehn, S Moustaizis, SG Preston, A Pukhov, SJ Rose, M Tatarakis, JS Wark, O Willi, M Zepf, J Zhang

Abstract:

The Rutherford Appleton Laboratory has been at the forefront of investigations into the physics associated with the fast ignition concept for inertial confinement fusion. This scheme involves complex laser-plasma processes, the theoretical understanding of which relies heavily on particle-in-cell calculations. In this paper, three experiments displaying quantitative agreement with detailed multi-dimensional PIC calculations are reviewed: hole-boring velocity measurements; relativistic self-focusing; and harmonic generation from plasma surfaces. Qualitative agreement of hot electron temperature measurements with PIC simulations are also discussed. The authors believe these results are very encouraging for the fast ignition concept. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
More details from the publisher

Fast electron propagation and energy deposition in laser shock compressed plasmas

Laser and Particle Beams 17:3 (1999) 519-528

Authors:

A Bernardinello, D Batani, V Masella, TA Hall, S Ellwi, M Koenig, A Benuzzi, J Krishnan, F Pisani, A Djaoui, P Norreys, D Neely, S Rose, MH Key, P Fews

Abstract:

The first experimental study of the propagation of electrons created by an intense laser in shock-compressed matter has been performed with the VULCAN laser facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, to investigate one of the fundamental phases of the fast ignitor concept for inertial confinement fusion. Plastic plane targets were irradiated on one side with two pulsed laser beams, each with I ≈ 1014 W/cm2, t ≈ 2 ns, E ≈ 80 J per pulse, to generate a planar shock wave; on the opposite side of the target, a chirped pulse amplification (CPA) laser beam (I ≈ 1016W/cm2, t ≈ 3 ps, E ≈ 10 J) was focused to generate the fast electrons. The results show an increase of hot electron penetration in compressed matter with respect to an ordinary one. Experimental results have been analyzed with computer simulations.
More details from the publisher
More details

Generation of focused intensities of 5×1019 W cm-2

Laser and Particle Beams 17:2 (1999) 341-347

Authors:

CN Danson, R Allott, G Booth, J Collier, CB Edwards, PS Flintoff, SJ Hawkes, MHR Hutchinson, C Hernandez-Gomez, J Leach, D Neely, P Norreys, M Notley, DA Pepler, IN Ross, JA Walczak, TB Winstone

Abstract:

The Strickland-Mourou technique of Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA) is now in common use on many laser systems and has resulted in massive increases in focused intensities. Implemented on the Vulcan laser system, the technique has generated multi-Joule subpicosecond pulses whilst maintaining beam quality to produce focused intensities of 5×1019 W cm-2.
More details from the publisher