M. D. Perry

Optical ablation by high-power short-pulse lasers

Laser-induced damage threshold measurements were performed on homogeneous and multilayer dielectrics and gold-coated optics at 1053 and 526 nm for pulse durations τ ranging from 140 fs to 1 ns. Gold coatings were found, both experimentally and theoretically, to be limited to 0.6 J/cm2 in the subpicosecond range for 1053-nm pulses. In dielectrics, we find qualitative differences in the morphology of damage and a departure from the diffusion-dominated τ1/2 scaling that indicate that damage results from plasma formation and ablation for τ ≤ 10 ps and from conventional heating and melting for τ > 50 ps. A theoretical model based on electron production by multiphoton ionization, joule heating, and collisional (avalanche) ionization is in quantitative agreement with both the pulse-width and the wavelength scaling of experimental results.

Ultrashort-pulse laser machining of dielectric materials

There is a strong deviation from the usual τ1/2 scaling of laser damage fluence for pulses below 10 ps in dielectric materials. This behavior is a result of the transition from a thermally dominated damage mechanism to one dominated by plasma formation on a time scale too short for significant energy transfer to the lattice. This new mechanism of damage (material removal) is accompanied by a qualitative change in the morphology of the interaction site and essentially no collateral damage. High precision machining of all dielectrics (oxides, fluorides, explosives, teeth, glasses, ceramics, SiC, etc.) with no thermal shock or distortion of the remaining material by this mechanism is described.

Petawatt laser pulses

We have developed a hybrid Ti:sapphire-Nd:glass laser system that produces more than 1500 TW (1.5 PW) of peak power. The system produces 660 J of power in a compressed 440+/-20 fs pulse by use of 94-cm master diffraction gratings. Focusing to an irradiance of >7x10(20) W/cm (2) is achieved by use of a Cassegrainian focusing system employing a plasma mirror.

Hot electron production and heating by hot electrons in fast ignitor research

In an experimental study of the physics of fast ignition the characteristics of the hot electron source at laser intensities up to 10(to the 20th power) Wcm{sup -2} and the heating produced at depth by hot electrons have been measured. Efficient generation of hot electrons but less than the anticipated heating have been observed.

High energy electrons, nuclear phenomena and heating in petawatt laser-solid experiments

The Petawatt laser at LLNL has opened a new regime of laser-matter interactions in which the quiver motion of plasma electrons is fully relativistic with energies extending well above the threshold for nuclear processes. In addition to -few MeV ponderomotive electrons produced in ultra-intense laser-solid interactions, we have found a high energy component of electrons extending to -100 MeV apparently from relativistic self-focusing and plasma acceleration in the underdense pre-formed plasma. The generation of hard bremsstrahlung, photo-nuclear reactions, and preliminary evidence for positron-electron pair production will be discussed.

Self-phase modulation in chirped-pulse amplification

The effect of self-phase modulation in chirped-pulse amplification is investigated. A numerical model is used to predict the effects of phase modulation on pulse recompression, and experimental results are presented that agree well with the calculations. We show that even moderate self-phase modulation can significantly distort the recompressed pulse after amplification, thereby reducing the peak power and degrading the pulse contrast.

Designing fully continuous phase screens for tailoring focal-plane irradiance profiles

An iterative algorithm for constructing fully continuous phase screens for tailoring far-field intensity profiles is presented. The algorithm is robust, stable, and, if run properly, maintains the continuous nature of the phase throughout the iterative process. The iterative procedure is applied to generate continuous phase screens to produce a 12th-power super-Gaussian far-field intensity profile.

Spectral shaping in chirped-pulse amplification

The role of spectral shaping in the production of subpicosecond, high-contrast pulses by using chirped-pulse amplification in Nd:glass lasers is described. Spectral shaping has been used to produce 3.2-TW pulses at 750 fsec with an energy contrast of better than 10(3):1. In the absence of shaping, compression of the 1053-nm pulses yielded only 1.5 psec and a contrast ratio of approximately 10:1.

HIGH-EFFICIENCY FUSED-SILICA TRANSMISSION GRATINGS

We describe the design, fabrication, and performance of high-efficiency transmission gratings fabricated in bulk fused silica for use in high-power ultraviolet laser systems. The gratings exhibit a diffraction efficiency of 94% in order m=-1 and a damage threshold greater than 13>J/cm( 2) for 3-ns pulses at 351 nm. Model calculations and experimental measurements are in good agreement.

Compact 10-TW, 800-fs Nd:glass laser

A tabletop Nd:phosphate glass laser system capable of producing a focused intensity in excess of 10(18) W/cm(2) is described. Optimization of chirped-pulse amplification, including spectral shaping and careful attention to beam quality, produces a transform-limited, 800-fs compressed pulse with a peak power of >10 TW in a near diffraction-limited spatially uniform beam.