T. Ceccotti

Evidence of resonant surface-wave excitation in the relativistic regime through measurements of proton acceleration from grating targets.

The interaction of laser pulses with thin grating targets, having a periodic groove at the irradiated surface, is experimentally investigated. Ultrahigh contrast (~10(12)) pulses allow us to demonstrate an enhanced laser-target coupling for the first time in the relativistic regime of ultrahigh intensity >10(19) W/cm(2). A maximum increase by a factor of 2.5 of the cutoff energy of protons produced by target normal sheath acceleration is observed with respect to plane targets, around the incidence angle expected for the resonant excitation of surface waves. A significant enhancement is also observed for small angles of incidence, out of resonance.

Field ionization model implemented in Particle In Cell code and applied to laser-accelerated carbon ions

A novel numerical modeling of field ionization in PIC (Particle In Cell) codes is presented. Based on the quasistatic approximation of the ADK (Ammosov Delone Krainov) theory and implemented through a Monte Carlo scheme, this model allows for multiple ionization processes. Two-dimensional PIC simulations are performed to analyze the cut-off energies of the laser-accelerated carbon ions measured on the UHI 10 Saclay facility. The influence of the target and the hydrocarbon pollutant composition on laser-accelerated carbon ion energies is demonstrated.

Prepulse effect on intense femtosecond laser pulse propagation in gas

The propagation of an ultrashort laser pulse can be affected by the light reaching the medium before the pulse. This can cause a serious drawback to possible applications. The propagation in He of an intense 60-fs pulse delivered by a Ti:sapphire laser in the chirped pulse amplification (CPA) mode has been investigated in conditions of interest for laser-plasma acceleration of electrons. The effects of both nanosecond amplified spontaneous emission and picosecond pedestals have been clearly identified. There is evidence that such effects are basically of refractive nature and that they are not detrimental for the propagation of a CPA pulse focused to moderately relativistic intensity. The observations are fully consistent with numerical simulations and can contribute to the search of a stable regime for laser acceleration.

Energetic ions at moderate laser intensities using foam-based multi-layered targets

The experimental feasibility of the laser-driven ion acceleration concept with multi-layered, foam-based targets has been investigated. Targets with the required features have been produced and characterized, exploiting the potential of the pulsed laser deposition technique. In the intensity range 1016–1017 W cm−2, they allow us to obtain maximum proton energies 2–3 times higher compared to bare solid targets, able to reach and surpass the MeV range with both low and ultrahigh contrast pulses. The results of two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, supporting the interpretation of the experimental results, and directions to exploit the concept also at ultrahigh intensities, are presented.

Divergence of fast ions generated by interaction of intense ultra-high contrast laser pulses with thin foils

We propose an analytical model that analyzes the divergence of fast ion beams accelerated at the rear of thin foils irradiated with ultra-short intense laser pulses. We demonstrate the critical role played by the non-stationary character of the side components of the electric field, which is responsible for ion acceleration from the back of the foil. The model predictions are in very good agreement with 2D PIC simulations and with the experiments performed in the ultra-high-contrast regime as well.

TNSA in the ultra-high contrast regime

We present some of the results obtained when an ultra-high-intensity (~5 × 1018W cm−2), ultra-high contrast (>1010) laser pulse interacts with thins foils. Under such conditions, protons accelerated by the target normal sheat acceleration mechanism are observed from both sides of the target and show quasi-symmetric features which have been corroborated by extensive 1D and 2D particle-in-cell simulations. Moreover, we show that due to the very steep gradient of the laser-irradiated surface, the Brunel effect is the main laser energy coupling mechanism.

Study of second harmonic emissions for characterization of laser–plasma X-ray sources

An investigation of second harmonic (SH) and X-ray emissions from Al plasmas produced by 3-ns, 1.064-μm laser pulses at 10 14 W/cm 2 is reported. The SH and X-ray yields are strongly correlated as a function of the target position with respect to the laser beam focus. The SH originates from the underdense coronal plasma and has a filamentary source, while the X-ray source is uniform. The results suggest that, although the X-ray emission is significantly enhanced by the filamentation of the laser light in the corona, there is a smoothing effect in the energy transport process toward the overdense region.

High field plasmonics and laser-plasma acceleration in solid targets

The interaction of low intensity laser pulses with metal nano-structures is at the basis of plasmonics and the excitation of surface plasmon polaritons (SP) is one of its building blocks. Some of the configurations adopted in classical plasmonics can be explored considering high intensity lasers interacting with properly structured targets. SP excitation at intensities such that the electrons quiver at relativistic velocities, poses new questions and might open new frontiers for manipulation and amplification of high power laser pulses. Here we discuss two configurations which show evidence of the resonant coupling between relativistically intense laser pulses with the SPs on plasma targets with surface modulations. Evidences of SP excitation were observed in a recent experiment when a high contrast (1012), high intensity laser pulse (I = 5 1019 W cm−2) was focussed on a grating target (engraved surface at submicron scale); a strong emission of multi-MeV electron bunches accelerated by SPs was observed only in conditions for the resonant SP excitation. Theoretical and numerical analysis of the Light-Sail (LS) Radiation Pressure Acceleration (RPA) regime show how the plasmonic resonant coupling of the laser light with the target rippling, affects the growth of Rayleigh Taylor Instability (RTI) driven by the radiation pressure.

Proton acceleration by moderately relativistic laser pulses interacting with solid density targets

We use two-dimensional (2D) particle-in-cell simulations to study the interaction of short-duration, moderately relativistic laser pulses with sub-micrometric dense hydrogen plasma slabs. Particular attention is devoted to proton acceleration by the target normal sheath mechanism. We observed that improved acceleration due to relativistic transparency of the target is unlikely for the shortest pulses, even for ultra-thin (~10 nm) targets. This mechanism would require either longer pulses or higher laser intensities. As the target density and thickness, pulse length, duration and polarization are varied, we see clear relationships between laser irradiance, hot electron temperature and peak proton energy. All these explain why, at a given incident laser energy level, the highest proton energy is not always obtained for the shortest-duration, highest-intensity pulse.

A study of laser plasmas as X-ray sources in the 1–10 keV spectral region

An experimental investigation on X-ray emission from laser-produced plasmas is presented and the properties of such an emission of interest for application purposes are examined. Plasmas were generated by focusing 1 μm, 3 ns Nd laser pulses onto Al and Cu targets at an intensity of 10 13 W/cm 2 . The temporal evolution of the emission and its spectral features were investigated by using an X-ray streak-camera and an X-ray photodiode. In the case of Cu targets, the analysis of the emission showed two spectral components. The main component was centered at 1.2 keV and a minor component, whose intensity was measured to be 10 -3 of the previous component, was observed at 7 keV. The X-ray conversion efficiency, in the investigated spectral region, was measured to be 1% for Cu targets and 0.3% for Al targets.