A theory of Reflectivity Oscillations in High-Power Laser Interaction with Inhomogeneous Expanding Plasmas for the Case of Strong Anomalous Absorption Near Critical Plasma Density I

It is shown at first that the ponderomotive laser force appreciably may enhance the values of the dielectric function ?(x) near the critical plasma density. If in some spatial region near ? = 0 a large anomalous collision frequency is assumed, sharply rising at some point, pump field depletion may also lead to strong changes in the density scale length. As a first approach we have calculated the laser reflectivity in the case when the anomalous collision frequency and the density scale length jump at some point near the critical one. We obtain temporal oscillations of the reflectivity if due to thermal plasma expansion the density scale length increases with time. The calculated frequency and amplitude of the reflectivity oscillations are shown to be in good agreement with measured values in the case of Nd-laser heating of solid targets.     

激光脉冲诱导的等离子体密度调制及其产生的相位反射

理论研究和数值模拟发现入射光和反射光在低密度等离子体中形成的干涉场可以产生深度的等离子体密度调制. 对于中等强度的入射光，譬如10¹⁵W／cm² ，产生密度调制的时间尺度在几十个光周期的范围. 这样的等离子体密度调制可以起类似布拉格反射镜的 作用，使得后面的入射光在临界面以下的区域产生相位反射. 因为密度调制的周期是光在等 离子体中波长的一半，其产生的反射率可以接近100％. 相位反射也可以在不均匀的低密度 等离子体中产生，它可以极大地减少等离子体对光的吸收，因此在惯性约束核聚变中需要考 虑到它的影响. 关键词： 相位反射 密度调制 激光等离子体 粒子模拟     

Transient reflectivity and transmission changes during plasma formation and ablation in fused silica induced by femtosecond laser pulses

We have studied the plasma formation and ablation dynamics in fused silica upon irradiation with a single 120 fs laser pulse at 800 nm by using fs-resolved pump-probe microscope. It allows recording images of the laser-excited surface at different time delays after the arrival of the pump pulse. This way, we can extract both the temporal evolution of the surface reflectivity and transmission, at 400 nm, for different spatial positions in the spots (and thus for different local fluences) from single series of images. At fluences well above the visible ablation threshold, a fast and large increase of the reflectivity is induced by the formation of a dense free-electron plasma. The maximum reflectivity value is reached within ≈1.5 ps, while the normalized transmission decreases within ≈400 fs. The subsequent temporal evolution of both transient reflectivity and transmission are consistent with the occurrence of surface ablation. In addition, the time-resolved images reveal the existence of a free-electron plasma distribution surrounding the visible ablation crater and thus formed at local fluences below the ablation threshold. The lifetime of this sub-ablation plasma is ≈50 ps, and its maximum electron density amounts to 5.5×10²² cm⁻³.     

表面等离子共振现象的新应用——微弱磁场的测量

提出了一种新的表面等离子体共振传感器, 它包含三层结构: 棱镜、金属薄膜及二能级介质. 通过理论分析发现, 与通常表面等离子体共振系统不同, 这一物理系统中同时存在两种共振效应 (表面等离子体共振和能级间量子跃迁的共振效应), 它们共同作用的结果导致一系列新的物理现象, 其中一个令人感兴趣的现象是入射光的反射率对外场导致的微小能级移动十分敏感 (这一现象是通常的表面等离子体共振系统所不具有的). 由于能级移动依赖于外场, 所以最终入射光的反射率对外场具有灵敏的响应. 本文以外磁场导致能级移动的情况进行了理论计算, 结果表明, 这种表面等离子体共振系统的入射光的反射率对外加磁场极其敏感. 这一特性可以用来测量物质表面附近的微弱磁场, 有可能发展成为一种新型检测技术.     

Effect of a plasma grating on pump-probe experiments near the ionization threshold in gases

Calculations are performed of the phase shift caused by the spatial modulation in the plasma density due to interference between a strong pump pulse and a weak probe pulse. It is suggested that a recent experiment [Opt. Express 17, 13429 (2009)] observed an effective birefringence from this plasma grating rather than from the higher-order Kerr effect.     

Removal of the indigo color by laser beam–denim interaction

Our experiments show that the laser fading process removes efficiently indigo-dye from denim support. We use the beams from Nd : YAG laser (1064 nm and its second harmonic 532 nm) and CO₂ (10.6 μm) lasers. Different laser pulse parameters were used in order to obtain laser power density and fluency to start the ablation process. The purpose of this work is to determine the change of denim diffuse reflectivity spectra after laser irradiation with different wavelength and different power density. The change of diffuse reflectivity coefficient was up to 17% at 450 nm wavelength (from 8% reflectivity for unirradiated denim).     

Generation of electromagnetic waves in the terahertz frequency range by optical rectification of a Gaussian laser pulse in a plasma in presence of an externally applied static electric field

We propose a theoretical model for the generation of electromagnetic waves in the terahertz (THz) frequency range by the optical rectification of a Gaussian laser pulse in a plasma with an applied static electric field transverse to the direction of propagation. A Gaussian laser pulse can exert a transverse component of the quasi‐static ponderomotive force on the electrons at a frequency in the THz range by a suitable choice of the laser pulse width. This nonlinear force is responsible for the density oscillation. The coupling of this oscillation with the drift velocity acquired by electrons due to the applied static electric field leads to the generation of a nonlinear current density. A spatial Gaussian intensity profile of the laser beam enhances the generated THz yield by many folds as compared to a uniform spatial intensity profile.     

Microsecond Microwave Radiation Bursts from a Relativistic Electron Beam Rotating in a Plasma

Coherent curvature radiation from an intense relativistic electron beam rotating in a plasma yielded in the past [1] only very short bursts of microwave radiation. Here we report on extension of the microwave-burst duration to the full width of the beam pulse for two different electron beams: a) 1 MV, 50 kA, 110 ns b) 0.6 MW, 15 kA, 1 , ?s. We show that the short bursts in the past resulted from sudden changes in the plasma density caused by ionization of neutrals, present in the drift tube, by the beam itself. This density change caused a shift away from the resonance condition necessary for coherent radiation. The extension of the pulsewidth was achieved by introducing a plasma gun which did not emit many neutrals. The radiation is mostly in the Ka band (? ? 1 cm) and the power level was ~1 MW.     

Ultra-short pulse laser interaction with transparent dielectrics

The interaction of intense, ultra-short laser pulses (USLP) with a surface of transparent dielectrics is considered. The combination of multi-photon absorption and impact ionization generates a plasma layer at the dielectric boundary. Interaction with the plasma self-consistently determines the amount of reflected, transmitted and absorbed light, and the spatial distribution of electron density. In the present paper, we model the interaction of USLP with transparent dielectrics. We calculate the evolution of electron density profiles and the variation of reflection, transmission and absorption of laser radiation during the pulse. We show that the laser-created surface plasma acts as a filter transmitting only the leading edge of the laser pulse. The transmitted energy is approximately fixed, nearly independent of input pulse energy. The transmitted energy increases with pulse duration. This increased energy is manifested in the formation of cylindrical shock waves directly applicable to recent experiments investigating absorption and shock generation in water. PACS 79.20.Ds; 81.15.Fg; 05.45.Pg     

Study of Intense Electron Beams Produced by High-Voltage Pulsed Glow Discharges

We report the generation of high-current-density (20 A/cm2) pulsed electron beams from high-voltage (48-100 kV) glow discharges using cathodes 7.5 cm in diameter. The pulse duration was determined by the energy of the pulse generator and varied between 0.2 ?s and several microseconds, depending on the discharge current. The largest electron beam current (900 A) was obtained with an oxidized aluminum cathode in a helium-oxygen atmosphere. An oxidized magnesium cathode produced similar results, and a molybdenum cathode operated at considerably lower currents. A small-diameter (<1 mm) well-collimated beam of energetic electrons of very high current density (>1 kA/cm2) was also observed to develop in the center of the discharge. Electrostatic probe measurements show that the negative glow plasma density and the electron beam current have a similar spatial distribution. Electron temperatures of 1-1.5 eV were measured at 7 cm from the cathode. The plasma density (8.5 · 1011 cm-3 at 450 A) was found to depend linearly on the discharge current. In discharges at high currents a denser and higher temperature plasma region was observed to develop at approximately 20 cm from the cathode. We have modeled the process of electron beam generation and predicted the energy distribution of the electron beam. More than 95 percent of the electron beam energy is calculated to be within 10 percent of that corresponding to the discharge voltage.     

Variable spectral filter based on optically saturated selective reflection

We have studied the selective reflection from glass-rubidium vapor interface at a large incidence angle in pump-probe experiment. The linear reflectivity can be more than 0.9 in a narrow spectral range (several GHz) at the blue side of the atomic resonance. The effect can be called the reduced total selective reflection. The reflectivity has been decreased two times due to the optical saturation. The obtained results can be used to develop a variable optical filter or optical switcher. Our estimations show that switching time can be less than the natural lifetime of the excited state. We suggested a multi-reflection scheme to increase the contrast of the variable spectral filter.     

An Experimental Investigation of Second Harmonic Generation in a Cyclotron and Upper Hybrid Resonant Plasma

An experiment is described in which an electromagnetic wave (extraordinary mode) is propagated across a magnetized plasma and second harmonic generation is detected. The generation of the plasma and the second harmonic wave is associated with resonant conditions of electron cyclotron resonance and upper hybrid resonance. By adjusting the intensity of axial magnetic field, the second harmonic generation can be made solely due to the electron cyclotron resonance, the upper hybrid resonance or both. The experiment is qualitatively in agreement with previous similar experiments and can be explained in terms of the spatial variations of the magnetic field intensity and the electron number density. A technique for diagnosing peak number density is developed from the observed second harmonic power characteristics.     

Observation of Localized Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating in a Magnetic Mirror

A right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) electron cyclotron wave is launched along the axis of a steady-state magnetically confined plasma column. Detailed measurements of the spatial variation of electron temperature, density, plasma potential, and wave amplitude about the resonance zone are presented. In particular, data are presented where the temperature increase due to electron cyclotron resonance heating (ECRH) is strongly localized near the resonance position. A numerical wave heating model has been developed for electrons in a magnetic mirror and is found to be in qualitative agreement with observations.     

超相对论激光和稠密等离子体作用产生阿秒脉冲的优化

利用一维粒子模拟程序研究了超相对论激光脉冲与稠密等离子体相互作用得到的阿秒脉冲.从超相对论近似的角度分析了电子运动行为和高次谐波的产生,发现当等离子体密度一定时,随着无量纲相似参数S的减小,阿秒脉冲的转换效率呈先增大后减小的趋势,因此选择适当的光强就可以得到转换效率较高的阿秒脉冲.当S一定时,随着等离子体密度的增加,阿秒脉冲转换效率有增大的趋势.这说明用适当的光强照射更稠密度的等离子体靶面,可以产生更强的阿秒脉冲.     

Hydrodynamics of a dense plasma created during laser annealing pulses

We show that an electron-hole plasma with density well above the droplet one (≈ 10¹⁸ cm^?3 in Si) expands very fast. Adding Auger recombination and phonon collisions, the maximum density for typical laser annealing pulses is found to be at most a few times 10²⁰ cm^?3. As a plasma density of a few times 10²¹ cm^?3 is necessary to modify the stability of the solid, we conclude that the laser pulse has essentially a thermal effect.     

Studies of advanced soft X-ray laser and coherent higher harmonic generation using intense subpicosecond laser produced high density plasma

Current activities on our research of soft X-ray lasers and higher harmonic generations using intense, subpicosecond lasers are reviewed. Especially for soft X-ray lasers we experimentally demonstrate that by longitudinally pumping 2-mm-long molybdenum preformed plasma with high-intensity 475 fs duration laser pulse, a highly directive soft-X-ray laser at 18.9 nm wavelength is generated. The divergence of the beam is evaluated to be of the submilliradian order, and only requires pump laser energy of 150 mJ. Simulations show that the pedestal in the main pump pulse can generate electron density and gain profiles with large spatial gradients, which result in the selective amplification of low-order transverse modes. The present result is the demonstration of an efficient and alternative method of improving the spatial coherence of X-ray lasers with amplified spontaneous emission medium, with possibilities of becoming an excellent tool to explore various application experiments. In higher harmonic generation, topics related to observation of blue shift due to collisionless absorption process is described.     

Optische Plasmaresonanz in CdO

The plasma resonance in semiconducting CdO with different electron concentrations has been investigated by means of reflectivity measurements on thin films with metallic substrate. The results — especially the dependence of the plasma frequency on carrier density — are discussed within the framework of the classical dispersion theory. At some films peculiarities of the reflectivity have been observed which suggest inhomogeneities of the electron concentration along the layer normal.     

Small atomic displacements recorded in bismuth by the optical reflectivity of femtosecond laser-pulse excitations

Subtle atomic motion in a Bi crystal excited by a 35 fs-laser pulse has been recovered from the transient reflectivity of an optical probe measured with an accuracy of 10(-5). Analysis shows that a novel effect reported here-an initial negative drop in reflectivity-relates to a delicate coherent displacement of atoms by the polarization force during the pulse. We also show that reflectivity oscillations with a frequency coinciding with that of cold Bi are related to optical phonons excited by the electron temperature gradient through electron-phonon coupling.     

Mathematical modeling of the heating of a fast ignition target by an ion beam

We develop a BIN computer code for simulating the interaction of a monochromatic ion beam with a plasma, which takes into account changes in the spatial distribution of the heated-plasma temperature. This enables us to calculate the heating of both homogeneous and inhomogeneous plasmas with parameters corresponding to their real spatial distributions at the time of maximum compression of the inertial confinement fusion (ICF) target. We present the results of a numerical simulation using the BIN code for the heating of a homogeneous deuterium–tritium plasma by a short pulse of monochromatic ions at various ion velocity and plasma–electron thermal velocity ratios. We also present the results of calculations for the heating of an inhomogeneous plasma of a non-cryogenic target formed as a beryllium deuteride–tritide shell by beams of light, medium, and heavy ions. As the initial distributions, we use the results of numerical simulations for such a target, precompressed by a laser pulse (carried out at the M. V. Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics using the DIANA code). We demonstrate the possibility of forming the central ignitor with the parameters sufficient for igniting the targets by beams of ions with energies E ~ 100 ? 400 MeV/u and specific energy densities of the beam Q ～ 5?20 GJ/cm². The required specific energy density drops with increase in the ion energy; however, due to the increased path length, larger-charge ions have to be used.     

Superradiant linear Raman amplification in plasma using a chirped pump pulse

A theoretical and numerical investigation of small-signal Raman backscattering from a chirped pump pulse in plasma shows that an ultrashort probe pulse will grow superradiantly, i.e., with an amplitude that scales with the propagation length while contracting self-similarly. These features are commonly associated with the nonlinear stages of Raman amplification in the pump depletion and Compton regimes. We show that the superradiant scaling results in very broad-bandwidth amplification due to gain distributed in frequency as well as spatially. Since different frequencies excite the plasma at different positions, wave breaking is avoided, and prepulses and pedestals are substantially suppressed. Linear chirped pulse amplification in plasma could provide a very broad-bandwidth alternative to solid state laser amplifiers, potentially usable for optical pulses a few cycles in duration.