R.W. Lee

Electron, Photon, and Ion Beams from the Relativistic Interaction of Petawatt Laser Pulses with Solid Targets

In recent Petawatt laser experiments at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, several hundred joules of 1 μm laser light in 0.5–5.0-ps pulses with intensities up to 3×1020 W cm−2 were incident on solid targets and produced a strongly relativistic interaction. The energy content, spectra, and angular patterns of the photon, electron, and ion radiations have all been diagnosed in a number of ways, including several novel (to laser physics) nuclear activation techniques. About 40%–50% of the laser energy is converted to broadly beamed hot electrons. Their beam centroid direction varies from shot to shot, but the resulting bremsstrahlung beam has a consistent width. Extraordinarily luminous ion beams (primarily protons) almost precisely normal to the rear of various targets are seen—up to 3×1013 protons with kTion∼several MeV representing ∼6% of the laser energy. Ion energies up to at least 55 MeV are observed. The ions appear to originate from the rear target surfaces. The edge of the ion beam is very shar...

Femtosecond diffractive imaging with a soft-X-ray free-electron laser

Theory predicts1,2,3,4 that, with an ultrashort and extremely bright coherent X-ray pulse, a single diffraction pattern may be recorded from a large macromolecule, a virus or a cell before the sample explodes and turns into a plasma. Here we report the first experimental demonstration of this principle using the FLASH soft-X-ray free-electron laser. An intense 25 fs, 4×1013 W cm−2 pulse, containing 1012 photons at 32 nm wavelength, produced a coherent diffraction pattern from a nanostructured non-periodic object, before destroying it at 60,000 K. A novel X-ray camera assured single-photon detection sensitivity by filtering out parasitic scattering and plasma radiation. The reconstructed image, obtained directly from the coherent pattern by phase retrieval through oversampling5,6,7,8,9, shows no measurable damage, and is reconstructed at the diffraction-limited resolution. A three-dimensional data set may be assembled from such images when copies of a reproducible sample are exposed to the beam one by one10.

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.

Spectra. a model for k-shell spectroscopy

Abstract X-ray spectroscopy is a powerful tool for understanding the kinetics of highly ionized plasmas. Its usefulness depends on the accuracy of the model used in analyzing spectra. We have developed a computer code for modeling and analyzing plasmas which is highly accurate as well as fast and easy to use. It produces synthetic spectra for hydrogen-like and helium-like ions at arbitrary density and temperature. Populations are calculated from rate equations including all relevant collisional and radiative process. The level populations of the hydrogen, helium and lithium-like ionization stages are calculated explicitly; those of all other ionization stages are lumped into one level. The microfield distribution and the shape of the line profiles are determined using detailed calculations. The code includes graphics to plot line ratios and synthetic spectra, and to do on-line analysis of experiments. The usefulness of this technique is demonstrated by analyzing the spectra from three different experiments: a laser irradiated aluminum disk; a neon gas puff pinch; and a laser imploded gas microballon.

Ultrafast x-ray Thomson scattering of shock-compressed matter.

Spectrally resolved scattering of ultrafast K-α x-rays has provided experimental validation of the modeling of the compression and heating of shocked matter. The elastic scattering component has characterized the evolution and coalescence of two shocks launched by a nanosecond laser pulse into lithium hydride with an unprecedented temporal resolution of 10 picoseconds. At shock coalescence, we observed rapid heating to temperatures of 25,000 kelvin when the scattering spectra show the collective plasmon oscillations that indicate the transition to the dense metallic plasma state. The plasmon frequency determines the material compression, which is found to be a factor of 3, thereby reaching conditions in the laboratory relevant for studying the physics of planetary formation.

Spectroscopic diagnostic for ablative compression experiments

A spectroscopic diagnostic which will be useful for laser-driven thick-shelled ablative compression targets is demonstrated. The diagnostic which uses spectral line emission from lithium-like bromine provides information from several allowed lines in a small spectral range and can be used to estimate ground state number density as well as electron density in the compressed core.

CHARACTERIZATION OF LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA X-RAY SOURCES FOR USE IN X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY.

We report the absolute conversion efficiency ξx from the incident laser light energy to x‐ray photons for laser‐produced plasmas. Potential x‐ray backlighting (radiography) line sources having photon energies from 1.4 to 8.6 keV are studied as a function of laser wavelength, pulsewidth, and intensity. The laser intensity and pulsewidth range from 1014 to 1016 W/cm2, 100 ps to 2 ns and include incident wavelengths of 1.06, 0.53, and 0.35 μm. We found that K‐shell x‐ray line emission ξx : (1) decreases with increasing x‐ray energy, (2) decreases with increasing laser intensity, (3) decreases rapidly with pulselength, and (4) moderately increases with decreasing laser wavelength. On the contrary, for Au M band emission, at a fixed laser intensity and pulsewidth, ξx significantly increases (∼25×) upon decreasing the laser wavelength from 1.06 to 0.35 μm.

A time-dependent model for plasma spectroscopy of K-shell emitters

Abstract The purpose of this report is to provide information on the suite of computer codes called FLY that allow one to understand the plasma spectroscopy of K -shell emitters. The code suite provides the basics for designing and/or analysing experiments where single-electron spectra are to be observed. The models incorporated are capable of generating information on lithium-like, helium-like and hydrogenic species from Z = 2 to 26, i.e., from helium to iron. This restriction in atomic number is dictated by the availability of data and interest in these elements. The code suite runs on any UNIX workstation or PC, thus allowing access to fairly sophisticated models while providing graphical output of populations, intensities, optical depths, as well as detailed spectra including Stark broadened transitions.

Dense Matter Characterization by X-ray Thomson Scattering

Abstract We discuss the extension of the powerful technique of Thomson scattering to the X-ray regime for providing an independent measure of plasma parameters for dense plasmas. By spectrally resolving the scattering, the coherent (Rayleigh) unshifted scattering component can be separated from the incoherent Thomson component, which is both Compton and Doppler shifted. The free electron density and temperature can then be inferred from the spectral shape of the high-frequency Thomson scattering component. In addition, as the plasma temperature is decreased, the electron velocity distribution as measured by incoherent Thomson scattering will make a transition from the traditional Gaussian Boltzmann distribution to a density-dependent parabolic Fermi distribution. We also present a discussion for a proof-of-principle experiment appropriate for a high-energy laser facility.

Point radiographic source characterization

A study was undertaken to find the optimal conditions for generating x rays using a high‐power frequency‐doubled Nd laser pulse for x‐ray backlighting application. More than 30 laser shots on the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory JANUS Research Laser system have been studied. The following specific questions are addressed: (a) X‐ray yield dependence on the laser parameters: (i) temporal pulse width and (ii) focusing conditions. (b) X‐ray source size versus target dimensions by using a tungsten wire with various diameters. (c) Influence of background plasma on the x‐ray yield from the wire using 25‐μm wires surrounded by plastic.