利用渡越辐射研究超热电子在固体靶中的输运过程

为了探索超热电子的输运过程，在100 TW掺钛蓝宝石飞秒激光器上利用光学CCD相机和OMA光学多道分析仪，分别在靶背表面法线方向测量了光发射空间分布图案和光谱. 实验测量结果显示，光发射空间分布图案呈圆盘状，在圆盘中明亮而强的光信号呈局部化分布，该现象表明，超热电子在输运的过程中存在成丝效应，引起严重的不稳定性；光发射光谱在3倍频和3/2倍频附近出现尖峰，分别是3次谐波和3/2次谐波，这一现象归因于超热电子束在传输的过程中产生的微束团而引起的相干渡越辐射(CTR)；光发射光强随靶厚度的增加而减小. 关键词： 超热电子 相干渡越辐射 输运 不稳定性     

超强脉冲激光辐照固体靶背表面的渡越辐射

 在超强脉冲激光与固体靶相互作用中,利用光学CCD相机和光学多道分析仪,分别在固体薄膜靶背表面法线方向测量了渡越辐射（TR）积分成像图案和光谱。测量结果显示：TR空间分布图案呈圆环状,而辐射区域有发散角和光强分布;TR光谱在800 nm附近出现尖峰,是激光的基频波,这一现象归因于超热电子束在输运的过程中产生的微束团而引起的相干渡越辐射;如果考虑超热电子的产生和加热机制,共振吸收和真空加热对超热电子都有贡献,其中占主导地位的加热机制则是共振吸收对电子的加热。     

Coherent transition radiation from thin targets irradiated by high intensity laser pulses

A theoretical examination on coherent transition radiations (CTR) from the surface of thin solid density target irradiated by high intensity laser is presented. The theory is extended to consider the expansion dynamics of thin foils. The motion of target surfaces leads to the modulation on the temporal structure of micro bunches in the electron beam as well as the spectrum of CTR. The spectral shifts of radiation are owing to the enhancement of electron bunch separation and the relativistic Doppler effects. The radiation power distribution is strongly affected by the temporal coherence of electron beam structure, so thus the electron temperature and velocity dispersions. With these effects accounted for, the spectral properties of coherent transition radiation can provide insights into the expansion of thin foil targets irradiated by intense laser pulse as well as the fast electron transport through it.     

超热电子输运背向光辐射的实验研究

在100TW掺钛蓝宝石飞秒激光器上利用光学CCD相机和光学多道分析仪,分别在靶背法线方向测量了超热电子光辐射的空间分布和光谱.测量结果显示：光辐射空间分布图案呈圆环状,而辐射区域有发散角和光强分布,且包含多种辐射成分.光辐射光谱在800nm附近出现尖峰,是激光的基频(ω₀)波,这一现象归因于超热电子束在输运的过程中产生的微束团而引起的相干渡越辐射(CTR).随着激光能量的增加,CTR光谱峰向红光方向移动,基频波红移的主要原因是由于等离子体临界面的迅速膨胀.如果考虑超热电 关键词： 超热电子 光辐射 共振吸收 红移     

激光光强扰动对相干场成像降质影响理论研究

激光相干场成像系统发射多束激光,经大气传输对远程目标成像,大气湍流引起的激光束光强扰动是影响成像质量的一个关键因素.本文从湍流引起的激光束光强扰动对回波解调信号的影响关系入手,建立了激光回波光强扰动因子对相位闭合系数和成像频谱分量的降质传函理论模型;基于三光束激光相干场成像系统仿真验证了理论模型的有效性.研究表明激光相干场成像频谱分量和成像像质主要受三光束相位闭合求解算法中第二光束光强扰动影响.该研究揭示了激光回波光强扰动对成像像质的影响机理,对于分析大气湍流等引起的光强扰动降质效应和合理分配多光束光强稳定性以提高成像质量具有理论指导意义.     

Characteristics of High Harmonics Generated in a Gas Filled Microcapillary

The phase-match and amplitude characteristics of high harmonics generation in gas filled micro-capillary have been analyzed. The results show that the order of harmonic can be selected by adjusting the gas pressure, the laser intensity and the inner diameter of capillary. The adjustment is depended on the dispersion properties of gas media . The amplitude of harmonics generated in gas filled capillary is two orders higher than that of gas jet, and the spectrum is become more monochromatic when the radius of the capillary is smaller. A high brightness tunable coherent soft X-ray source can be produced through interaction of fs intense laser with gas filled microcapillary.     

Characteristics of High Harmonics Generated in a Gas Filled Microcapillary

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超热电子产生的靶后相干渡越辐射光谱实验研究

利用OMA光学多道分析仪测量了激光与薄膜靶相互作用中产生的辐射光谱，在靶后观察到红移的二次谐波发射. 这种二次谐波是v×B加热产生的、具有微脉冲结构的超热电子束在等离子体-真空边界产生的相干渡越辐射(CTR). 随着激光能量的增大，红移峰向长波方向移动，光谱同时发生展宽. 分析认为，等离子体临界面的迅速膨胀是导致二次谐波红移的主要原因. 随着预脉冲能量的增大，临界面膨胀速度增大，导致了发射峰更大的红移. 实验还测量了靶面法线方向的辐射光谱，观察到基频辐射的红移和展宽. CTR为诊断临界面的运动方向和速度提供了一种新的方法. 关键词： 相干渡越辐射 超热电子 超短超强激光 等离子体相互作用     

基于半解析自洽理论研究相对论激光脉冲驱动下阿秒X射线源的产生

发展了一种描述相对论激光脉冲与稠密等离子体相互作用产生阿秒X射线源的半解析自洽理论.该理论模型不仅可以获得等离子体界面的振荡轨迹、振荡面电场和磁场等物理参数,而且能够精确计算出激光脉冲驱动下阿秒X射线源的频谱,结果与粒子模拟程序一致.理论计算结果表明阿秒X射线源的辐射特性与等离子体界面随时演化过程相关,在周期量级激光场驱动下等离子体界面振荡振幅呈现中心不对称,通过改变激光场的载波包络相位实现对等离子体界面振荡的控制,获得准单阿秒X射线源.     

双色高频激光作用下原子低阶次谐波的理论研究

通过数值求解含时薛定谔方程,研究了高频双色激光脉冲与原子相互作用产生的光辐射.研究表明,光辐射谱中既有基频光的谐波,又可观测到谐波能量附近的多个频率的光辐射产生,且辐射的峰值强度随着入射激光强度的提高呈指数增强,相邻辐射频率差值为入射的两束激光脉冲频率差.     

Effect of sheath potential on electromagnetic radiation emitted from the rear surface of a metallic foil target

In ultra-intense laser--matter interactions, intense electric fields formed at the rear surface of a foil target may have strong influences on the motion of energetic electrons, and thereby affect the electromagnetic emissions from the rear surface, usually ascribed to transition radiation. Due to the electric fields, transition radiation occurs twice and bremsstrahlung radiation also happens because the electrons will cross the rear surface twice and have large accelerations. In the optic region, transition radiation is dominant. The radiation spectrum depends on the electric field only when the electrons are monochromatic, and becomes independent of the electric field when the electrons have a broadband momentum distribution. Therefore, in an actual experiment, the electric field at the rear surface of a foil could not be studied just with the measurement of optic emissions. In the terahertz region, both bremsstrahlung and transition radiations should be taken into account, and the radiation power could be enhanced in comparison with that without the inclusion of bremsstrahlung radiation. The frequency at which the maximum terahertz radiation appears depends on the electric field.     

利用渡越辐射研究超热电子束的传输特性

 为了探索超热电子束的传输特性，利用光学CCD相机在靶背法线方向测量了光学渡越辐射积分成像图案。实验在100 TW掺钛蓝宝石激光器上进行，飞秒激光与固体靶作用后，靶表面发光信号由空间分辨装置聚焦成像并引到CCD狭缝上。在厚度为20 μm的Ta靶背表面观测到渡越辐射光斑呈现较平滑的圆形结构，而且中心亮度高于周围，这包含了非相干与相干渡越辐射的成分，与理论模拟结果接近；在厚度为100 μm的Ta靶背表面观测到渡越辐射光斑呈现出星状结构，光斑较小，与高能质子发射出现的星状结构极其相似；在复合靶背表面观测到渡越辐射光斑虽然也呈现大致的圆形结构，但光斑较大，而且极不均匀，中间有很明显的光斑分裂。     

Evidence of ultrashort electron bunches in laser-plasma interactions at relativistic intensities

The second harmonic of the laser light (2omega(0)) is observed on the rear side of thick solid targets irradiated by a laser beam at relativistic intensities. This emission is explained by the acceleration by the laser pulse in front of the target of short bunches of electrons separated by the period (or half the period) of the laser light. When reaching the rear side of the target, these electron bunches emit coherent transition radiation at 2omega(0). The observations indicate that, in our conditions, the minimum fraction of the laser energy transferred to these electron bunches is of the order of 1%.     

激光驻波中运动电子的谐波自发辐射

 采用单电子模型分析了电子在线极化激光驻波中的动力学及谐波自发辐射谱,数值计算了电子在驻波中的运动情况及辐射谱。结果表明:电子在波节和波腹处入射后,其辐射谱出现不同的特征;电子在波节处垂直磁场入射后,在洛伦兹力作用下快速振动并向前运动,其向后辐射的光谱发生红移,向前辐射的光谱发生蓝移,谱线出现展宽;当激光强度或者电子初始能量增大时,这些效应更加突出,以至于产生更高阶谐波,形成连续谱;而电子在波腹处以平行电场的方向入射后,仅在电场作用下作直线运动,其自发辐射谱线没有发生移动和展宽。     

Generation of higher-order harmonics of chirped radiation from a titanium-sapphire laser in plasma generated by pulses of different durations

The frequency conversion of laser radiation in plasma created by pulses of different durations under conditions of the chirp variation of the radiation to be converted is investigated. It is shown that the chirp variation of the laser pulse during the generation of higher-order radiation harmonics of the femtosecond laser leads to a considerable change in the brightness, wavelength shift, and maximal order of generated harmonics. The long-and short-wavelength shifts of harmonics observed in these studies are attributed to the manifestation of a considerable concentration of free charge carriers in the plasma, as well as the self-modulation of the laser pulse. The generation of plasma by pulses whose durations vary from 160 fs to 20 ns is considered and it is shown that the generation efficiency of harmonics depends to a greater extent on the energy of the heating prepulse than on its intensity on the surface of a target to be ablated. The effect that the atomic number of the target has on the formation of optimal plasma at different delays between the heating prepulse and the femtosecond pulse to be converted is discussed.     

Coherent focusing of high harmonics: a new way towards the extreme intensities

We demonstrate analytically and numerically that focusing of high harmonics produced by the reflection of a few-femtosecond laser pulse from a concave plasma surface opens a new way to unprecedentally high intensities. The key features allowing the boosting of the focal intensity are the harmonics coherency and the small exponent of the power-law decay of the harmonics spectrum. Using similarity theory and direct particle-in-cell simulations, we find that the intensity at the focus scales as I(CHF) alpha a(3)(0)I(0), where a(0) and I(0) alpha a(2)(0) are the dimensionless relativistic amplitude and the intensity of the incident laser pulse. The scaling suggests that due to the coherent harmonic focusing (CHF), the Schwinger intensity limit can be reached using lasers with I(0) approximately 10(22) W/cm(2). The pulse duration at the focus scales as tau(CHF) alpha 1/a(2)(0) and reaches the subattosecond range.     

Generation of higher harmonics in laser plasma formed on the surface of a silver target

The results of investigation of the higher harmonics (from the 21st to the 61st order) of radiation of a femtosecond laser (793 nm, 48 fs) that are generated in silver plasma are presented. The changes in the shape and spectra of harmonics for different chirps of the laser radiation are studied. It is found that the wavelengths of harmonics generated in the region of the plateaulike distribution of the converted radiation intensity can be tuned. It is shown that the conditions of phase matching between harmonics and laser radiation are different for different modulations of the femtosecond pulse spectrum. The tuning range of the spectrum of the converted radiation in the region of lower harmonics, which lie in the beginning region of the plateau, is shown to amount to 0.8 nm.     

Control of the intensity of a single harmonic generated in laser plasma by varying the chirp of intense femtosecond pulses

A significant increase, as well as a decrease, in the intensity of single higher harmonics of femtosecond radiation of a Ti:sapphire laser that are generated in a weakly excited laser plasma on the surface of GaAs, Cr, InSb, In, and stainless steel is demonstrated. The intensities of some higher harmonics in different regions of their plateaulike distribution varied from a 23-fold excess over the intensity of the neighboring harmonics to the complete absence in the extreme ultraviolet spectrum. The specific features of a 200-fold increase in the intensity of the 13th harmonic generated in indium plasma are analyzed. These variations in the intensity distribution of harmonics in the plateau region are obtained by varying the chirp of laser pulses.     

Observation of frequency-locked coherent terahertz Smith-Purcell radiation

We report the observation of enhanced coherent Smith-Purcell radiation (SPR) at terahertz (THz) frequencies from a train of picosecond bunches of 15 MeV electrons passing above a grating. SPR is more intense than other sources, such as transition radiation, by a factor of Ng, the number of grating periods. For electron bunches that are short compared with the radiation wavelength, coherent emission occurs, enhanced by a factor of Ne, the number of electrons in the bunch. The electron beam consists of a train of Nb bunches, giving an energy density spectrum restricted to harmonics of the 17 GHz bunch train frequency, with an increased energy density at these frequencies by a factor of Nb. We report the first observation of SPR displaying all three of these enhancements, NgNeNb. This powerful SPR THz radiation can be detected with a high signal to noise ratio by a heterodyne receiver.     

等离子体光栅靶的表面粗糙度对高次谐波产生的影响

极紫外光和软X射线由于其波长和脉冲持续时间极短,可用于超快物理过程和物质微观结构的探测.最近几年,研究人员发现激光和等离子体相互作用可以产生持续时间极短(阿秒)且相干性较好的高次谐波辐射,其波长可接近甚至达到水窗波段.然而,实验研究指出,理论上应出现的一些谐波在实验中并没有出现.本文针对超短超强激光与非理想条件下的等离子体光栅靶相互作用产生高次谐波的物理过程进行了理论分析和粒子模拟.研究结果表明,等离子体光栅的周期性结构对于高次谐波的频谱和辐射角分布存在显著调制效果.光栅靶表面粗糙度直接影响光栅的光学调制效果,改变高次谐波的频谱分布和辐射角分布.理想光栅条件下,满足光栅匹配条件的特定阶数谐波明显获得增强,且辐射张角集中在平行靶面的方向.靶表面粗糙度的出现,导致光栅匹配条件失效,高次谐波能量向各阶分散且辐射张角逐渐偏离靶表面方向.研究结果较好地解释了实验中观测到的谐波频谱分布,为进一步的研究提供了一定参考.