Parametric study of plasma active medium and gain saturation region in a Ne-like soft X-ray laser

Plasmas created by the interaction of high power optical laser with a target surface can be used as a source of soft X-ray lasers. Plasma and pump laser characteristics play significant role in achieving high gain coefficient for such plasma based on soft X-ray lasers. In the present work, the plasma active medium parameters for germanium element at a wavelength of 19.6 nm irradiated by a double-pulse pump laser have been studied using MED103 hydrodynamic code. For this purpose, first, the effects of laser intensity, pulse width and delay time of two pulses on the gain coefficient have been investigated and the optimum conditions for the maximum gain extent of Ne-like germanium soft X-ray laser are obtained. Then, in order to calculate the intensity of such high gain lasers in which Linford equation is invalid, we have adopted the general formula of amplified spontaneous emission intensity, which is valid in all range of intensities even at much higher intensities than saturation intensity. Finally, the soft X-ray laser intensities in the saturated areas for different plasma lengths have been calculated. The results show that the output of soft X-ray laser intensity with 294 cm⁻¹ gain coefficient can reach to about several times saturated intensity by applying a 1–2 mm plasma length as the active medium.     

Dominance of radiation pressure in ion acceleration with linearly polarized pulses at intensities of 10(21) W cm(-2)

A novel regime is proposed where, by employing linearly polarized laser pulses at intensities 10(21) W cm(-2) (2 orders of magnitude lower than discussed in previous work [T. Esirkepov et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 175003 (2004)]), ions are dominantly accelerated from ultrathin foils by the radiation pressure and have monoenergetic spectra. In this regime, ions accelerated from the hole-boring process quickly catch up with the ions accelerated by target normal sheath acceleration, and they then join in a single bunch, undergoing a hybrid light-sail-target normal sheath acceleration. Under an appropriate coupling condition between foil thickness, laser intensity, and pulse duration, laser radiation pressure can be dominant in this hybrid acceleration. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that 1.26 GeV quasimonoenergetic C(6+) beams are obtained by linearly polarized laser pulses at intensities of 10(21) W cm(-2).     

Structural,compositional, optical and colorimetric characterization of TiN-nanoparticles

With the construction of novel XUV sources, such as VUV FELs, XUV laser-matter interaction will become available at ultra-high intensities. But even tabletop facilities such as XUV lasers or High Harmonic Generation, are starting to reach intensities high enough to produce dense plasmas. XUV laser-matter interaction is studied by a 1D hydrodynamic Lagrangian code with radiative transfer for a range of interesting XUV sources. Heating is found to be very different for Z = 12-14 elements having L-edges around the XUV laser wavelength. Possible absorption mechanisms were investigated in order to explain this behaviour, and interaction with cold dense matter proved to be dominant. Plasma sensitivity to XUV laser parameters such as energy, pulse duration, and wavelength was also studied, covering ranges of existing XUV lasers. We found that XUV laser-produced plasmas could be studied using tabletop lasers, paving the way for future VUV-FEL high intensity experiments.Received: 6 December 2003, Published online: 20 January 2004PACS: 52.38.Dx Laser light absorption in plasmas (collisional, parametric, etc.) - 52.65.Kj Magnetohydrodynamic and fluid equation - 42.55.Vc X- and gamma-ray lasers     

Ponderomotive ion acceleration in dense plasmas at super-high laser intensities

Short laser pulses at super-high intensities such as those proposed in the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) project open new prospects for efficient acceleration of ions in overdense plasmas. A simple analytical model and numerical simulations demonstrate that pulses with intensities exceeding 10²² W/cm² may efficiently accelerate ions to high energies up to a few GeV. Maximum ion energy and the energy spectrum of the accelerated ions can be tuned by an appropriate choice of laser pulse intensity and duration at a given plasma density distribution.     

Tantalum ion acceleration in laser‐generated plasma and dependence on the pulse duration

The laser irradiation of tantalum targets is presented for different pulsed laser intensities ranging from 10¹⁰ up to about 10¹⁸ W/cm² and pulse durations from 9 ns up to 40 fs. The results show that the produced non‐equilibrium plasma accelerates Ta ions in the backward direction from values of the order of keV up to values of about 5 MeV. In thin foils, the forward plasma, developed behind the target along the direction of incoming laser, at intensities of about 10¹⁶ W/cm² and 300 ps pulse duration, accelerates Ta ions at energies of the order of 4.6 MeV and produces charge states up to about 40+. For fs lasers at intensities of the order of 10¹⁸ W/cm², only proton acceleration occurs up to 2.1 MeV while no Ta ions are accelerated, due to the reduced duration of the electric field and to the too high inertial mass of the Ta ions.     

50mJ超短脉冲KrF激光系统的参数优化

 介绍了原子能院建立的钛宝石/KrF混合型激光装置，主要输出参数的测量和性能优化。放电泵浦准分子激光器采用离轴放大结构，结合棱镜对进行GVD补偿，获得50mJ，220fs的紫外超短脉冲。用40cm透镜聚焦，靶上功率密度达到10¹⁷ W/cm²。     

50mJ超短脉冲KrF激光系统的参数优化

介绍了原子能院建立的钛宝石 /KrF混合型激光装置 ,主要输出参数的测量和性能优化。放电泵浦准分子激光器采用离轴放大结构 ,结合棱镜对进行GVD补偿 ,获得 5 0mJ,2 2 0fs的紫外超短脉冲。用4 0cm透镜聚焦 ,靶上功率密度达到 10 17W/cm2 。     

Photoacoustic and evaporation pressure signals in water irradiated with erbium laser pulses

Pressure signals in water exposed to erbium laser pulses with a duration of 200 ns, a wavelength of 2.94 μm, and an intensity modulated with a period of ∼ 5 ns due to mode beats were studied. It was found that the amplitude of the high-frequency component of the pressure signal, caused by this modulation, reproduces the behavior of the smooth component of the laser pulse shape at low irradiation intensities. As the intensity increases, behavior of the high-frequency signal amplitude is more complicated, showing significant decrease at certain instants of laser pulse exposures. Such behavior can be caused by the simultaneous effect of photoacoustic and evaporation mechanisms of pressure generation in irradiated liquid.     

Femtosecond laser-induced dynamic alignment in Coulomb explosion of CO: Roles of laser wavelength, intensity and pulse duration

Dependences of dynamic alignment of CO molecules induced by intense femtosecond laser fields on laser wavelength, intensity and pulse duration are investigated by numerical simulations. A counting approach and a fourth-order Runge-Kutta algorithm are used to calculate the angular distribution and the time evolution of molecules. A two-step Coulomb explosion model of diatomic molecules in intense laser fields is used to determine the instant that CO molecular dynamic alignment is over. Our calculating results show that the linear polarizability and the damping force play an important role in the angular rotation of CO molecule in conditions of 800 nm laser wavelength and 10¹⁵ W/cm² laser intensity. The contributions of the second-order field-induced dipole moment and the higher-order correction term to molecular rotation acceleration comparing to the linear polarizability and damping force are negligible. The extent of dynamic alignment of CO molecules reduces with the increasing of laser intensity. The dynamic alignment time of CO molecules is tightly connected to the laser pulse duration. The angular distributions of CO molecules as the laser pulse length varied from 50 to 250 fs at laser intensity of 3×10¹⁴ W/cm² are shown and discussed.     

锁模脉冲波长连续可调谐光纤激光器

利用在腔内加入可调谐光纤光栅滤波器使“8”字形腔掺Yb3+光纤激光器在锁模状态下实现波长连续可调谐.实验中,在保证锁模状态稳定的情况下,通过调节可调谐光纤光栅滤波器,使激光器输出锁模脉冲的中心波长在1 047 nm～1 055 nm范围内连续调谐,重复频率稳定维持在4.9 MHz.在中心波长1 053 nm处,测得锁模脉冲输出平均功率为8.02 mW,光谱带宽1 nm,脉冲宽度为259.3 ps.这种“8”字形腔被动锁模光纤激光器在锁模状态下对波长连续可调谐,并可长时间稳定工作.     

The onset of coulomb explosions in polyatomic molecules

With the development of high intensity femtosecond lasers, the ionisation and dissociation dynamics of molecules has become an area of considerable interest. Using the technique of femtosecond laser mass spectrometry (FLMS), the molecules carbon disulphide, pyrimidine, toluene, cyclohexanone and benzaldehyde are studied with pulse widths of 50 fs in the near infrared (IR) wavelength region (790 nm). Results are presented and contrasted for laser beam intensities around 10(15) and 10(16) W cm(-2). For the lower intensities, the mass spectra yield dominant singly charged parent ions. Additionally, the appearance of doubly charged parent ions is evident for carbon disulphide, toluene and benzaldehyde with envelopes of doubly charged satellite species existing in these local regions. Carbon disulphide also reveals a small triply charged component. Such atomic-like features are thought to be a strong fingerprint of FLMS at these intensities. However, upon increasing the laser intensity to approximately 10(16) W cm(-2), parent ion dominance decreases and the appearance of multiply charged atomic species occurs, particularly carbon. This phenomenon has been attributed to Coulomb explosions in which the fast absorption of many photons may produce transient highly ionised parent species which can subsequently blow apart. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of the absorption mechanism during laser-metal interaction

The present study examines the absorption of a laser beam at different wavelengths by a partially-ionized vapour during the interaction mechanism. The applicability of the theoretical models developed is discussed in detail. The interaction of the high- and low-power intensities of a laser beam with plasma is distinguished. It is shown that different metal vapours at similar temperatures and densities have absorption depths which may differ by an order of magnitude. Even more substantial is the difference between the absorption depths of light from different lasers in common use. It is also shown that the free electron temperature becomes significantly different from the heavy particle temperature for power intensities above the critical level which is typically > 10¹⁴W/m². The free electron velocity distribution has an isotropic part which becomes non-Maxwellian for power intensities greater than the critical power intensity.     

Simple generation of 400–700 nm picosecond dye laser pulses with nanosecond laser pumping

New results in the experimental study of the spectro-temporal selection (STS) method to produce picosecond dye laser pulses are presented. Adjustability of the picosecond pulse wavelength, possibility of extension of the STS method to different dyes and to UV pump wavelength, stability of the output pulse duration and intensity, and the concentration effect on pulse duration, are reported for the first time. From these results, production of high power picosecond (50–100 ps) dye laser pulses spectrally adjustable between 400 and 700 nm is obtained with a standard nanosecond pump laser, in a compact and simple device.     

超短超强激光脉冲辐照超薄碳膜电离状态研究

为了进一步理解极端条件下物质的电离特性, 特别是超短超强激光脉冲辐照超薄靶时等离子体的形成与分布, 本文以超薄碳膜为例, 细致研究了超短超强激光脉冲辐照下原子的离化过程. 分析和比较了强激光场直接作用电离和靶内静电场电离等两种场致电离形式, 在碰撞电离可以忽略的情况下, 发现更多的电离份额是来自靶内静电场的电离方式. 研究了激光脉冲强度对电离的影响, 发现激光脉冲强度越强, 电离速度越快, 产生的高价态离子所占比例也越高.当激光强度为1×10²⁰ W/cm²时, 尽管该强度高于电离生成C⁺⁶所需要的激光强度阈值, 但该激光脉冲并不能将整个靶电离成C⁺⁶离子, 对此本文进行了详细的分析. 在研究激光脉冲宽度的影响时, 发现激光脉宽越小, 电离速度越快, 但越小的激光脉冲电离获得的高价态离子越少.     

纳秒光场下原子团簇产生高离化Kr离子的激光波长效应

利用不同波长和光强的纳秒激光,对Kr原子团簇进行了激光电离的飞行时间质谱研究,观察到Kr高价离子价态显著地依赖于激光波长,当分别用波长为1064,532,355和266 nm的激光照射Kr原子团簇时,可分辨的离子最高价态分别为+17,+11,+4和+2价;然而离子价态与激光功率密度的依赖关系并不明显。实验结果支持多光子电离-逆轫致吸收加热-电子碰撞电离三步电离模型,表明电子碰撞电离是高价离子产生的主要途径。     

Coupled-cavity passively Q-switched two-Stokes microchip laser

Experimental and theoretical studies of the coupled-cavity diode-pumped Nd:YAG/Cr:YAG microchip lasers with intracavity Raman conversion of laser pulses in a Ba(NO₃)₂ crystal into two Stokes pulses have been made. Two lasers with a different cavity length have been investigated. The minimal pulse durations at the 2nd Stokes wavelength were ??100 ps in the short-cavity laser at pulse energy of 5???J, and the pulse repetition rate reached 20?C24?kHz. The laser and Stokes pulse dynamics, as well as the spatial intensity distribution of the laser and the 1st Stokes beams at the output mirror have been recorded. A model describing such coupled-cavity microchip Raman lasers has been developed. The numerically simulated laser and Stokes pulse dynamics, and the calculated pulse energy, duration, and repetition rate are in good agreement with the experimental data.     

Protons and carbon ions acceleration in the target-normal-sheath-acceleration regime using low-contrast fs laser and metal-graphene targets

fs pulsed lasers at an intensity of the order of 10¹⁸ W/cm², with a contrast of 10⁻⁵, were employed to irradiate thin foils to study the target-normal-sheath-acceleration (TNSA) regime. The forward ion acceleration was investigated using 1/11 µm thickness foils composed of a metallic sheet on which a thin reduced graphene oxide film with 10 nm thickness was deposited by single or both faces. The forward-accelerated ions were detected using SiC semiconductors connected in time-of-flight configuration. The use of intense and long pre-pulse generating the low contrast does not permit to accelerate protons above 1 MeV because it produces a pre-plasma destroying the foil, and the successive main laser pulse interacts with the expanding plasma and not with the overdense solid surface. Experimental results demonstrated that the maximum proton energies of about 700 keV and of 4.2 MeV carbon ions and higher were obtained under the condition of the optimal acceleration procedure. The measurements of ion energy and charge states confirm that the acceleration per charge state is measurable from the proton energy, confirming the Coulomb–Boltzmann-shifted theoretical model. However, heavy ions cannot be accelerated due to their mass and low velocity, which does not permit them to be subjected to the fast and high developed electric field driving the light-ion acceleration. The ion acceleration can be optimized based on the laser focal positioning and on the foil thickness, composition, and structure, as it will be presented and discussed.     

Generation of optical waveforms in 1.3-μm SOA-based fiber lasers

Passive optical waveform generation is obtained in fiber lasers using a 1.3-μm semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) as the gain medium. Various waveforms, including square wave, staircase wave, triangular wave, pulse, and dark pulse are generated in SOA-based fiber lasers by adjusting intracavity polarization controllers. The passive waveform generation might be attributed to the SOA gain dynamics and the enhanced nonlinear interaction at the 1.3-μm zero dispersion wavelength of traditional single-mode fiber (SMF), as well as the interference effect between the two sub-cavities of fiber laser. With figure-8 cavity configuration, 1250th-order harmonic pulses have been successfully demonstrated. We have also obtained a free-running SOA-based fiber laser with 3-dB spectral width of 16 nm, and the center wavelength can be tuned over 45 nm range.     

钛宝石激光抽运的被动锁模Tm:YAG陶瓷激光实验研究

本文采用连续钛宝石激光作抽运,掺杂浓度为6 at.%、长度为2.7 mm的Tm:YAG陶瓷作增益介质,通过引入半导体饱和吸收体获得了稳定的被动锁模运转.实验中获得的激光锁模功率为116.5 mW,中心波长为2007 nm,重复频率为109 MHz,通过自行搭建的腔外非共线强度自相关测量得到的脉冲宽度是55 ps.