Application of proton radiography in experiments of relevance to inertial confinement fusion

Multi-Mev proton beams generated by target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) during the interaction of an ultra intense laser beam (I≥10¹⁹ W/cm²) with a thin metallic foil (thickness of the order of a few tens of microns) are particularly suited as a particle probe for laser plasma experiments. The proton imaging technique employs a laser-driven proton beam in a point-projection imaging scheme as a diagnostic tool for the detection of electric fields in such experiments. The proton probing technique has been applied in experiments of relevance to inertial confinement fusion (ICF) such as laser heated gasbags and laser-hohlraum experiments. The data provides direct information on the onset of laser beam filamentation and on the plasma expansion in the hohlraum’s interior, and confirms the suitability and usefulness of this technique as an ICF diagnostic.     

Measuring E and B fields in laser-produced plasmas with monoenergetic proton radiography

Electromagnetic (E/B) fields generated by the interaction with plasmas of long-pulse, low-intensity laser beams relevant to inertial confinement fusion have been measured for the first time using novel monoenergetic proton radiography methods. High-resolution, time-gated radiography images of a plastic foil driven by a 10(14) W/cm(2) laser implied B fields of approximately 0.5 MG and E fields of approximately 1.5 x 10(8) V/m. Simulations of these experiments with LASNEX+LSP have been performed and are in overall (though not exact) agreement with the data both for field strengths and for spatial distributions; this is the first direct experimental test of the laser-generated B-field package in LASNEX. The experiments also demonstrated that laser phase plates substantially reduce medium-scale chaotic field structure.     

激光惯性约束聚变中光学汤姆逊散射研究进展

当前,激光惯性约束聚变在越来越接近点火的极端能量密度条件下,实验与模拟的偏离逐渐增大,一个关键原因是缺乏对黑腔等离子体状态及其影响黑腔能量学和内爆对称性的细致研究和判断。光学汤姆逊散射主动式、诊断精确、参数完备的优点,使之成为激光惯性约束聚变黑腔等离子体状态参数精密诊断的标准方法。中国面向激光惯性约束聚变研究的光学汤姆逊散射实验技术的发展与神光系列激光装置的建设和在其上开展的物理实验紧密相关。近年来,四倍频汤姆逊散射实验技术在神光III原型和100 kJ激光装置上相继建立,部分实验结果不仅加深了对激光惯性约束聚变靶物理的认识,还反映了实验条件对汤姆逊散射诊断的影响,促进了实验技术的精密化发展。在未来,还需要进一步发展多支路汤姆逊散射、五倍频汤姆逊散射和超热相干汤姆逊散射等新技术,面向点火黑腔条件,大幅提升激光等离子体状态参数的诊断精度,开展新物理机制的探索和研究,在激光惯性约束聚变和其他高能量密度物理科学领域发挥更重要的作用。     

Proton radiography of magnetic field in laser produced plasma

Electromagnetic fields generated by the interaction with plasmas of long-pulse laser beams relevant to inertial confinement fusion have been measure. A proton beam generated by the interaction of an ultraintense laser with a thin metallic foil is used to probe the B-fields. The proton beam then generated is temporally short (of the order of a ps), highly laminar and hence equivalent to a virtual point which makes it an ideal source for radiography. We have investigated, using face-on radiography, B fields at intensity around 10¹⁴ W/cm² due to the non colinearity of temperature and density gradients.     

甚多束激光直接驱动靶面辐照均匀性研究

针对甚多束激光辐照下的直接驱动靶面光强均匀分布开展了系统研究. 利用球谐模分析选定了可实现均匀辐照的靶面弹着点极角分布, 并通过数值模拟确定了以等效48束激光直接驱动辐照下靶面三环弹着点极角位置分别为22.4°, 47.7°和73.6°. 基于特定装置构型分析了实现极向直接驱动时对各路激光指向的修正, 并对光束截面焦斑进行了优化, 实现了极向直接驱动下的靶面均匀辐照.     

极强激光场驱动超亮伽马辐射和正负电子对产生的研究进展

高功率超短超强激光脉冲的诞生开启了相对论非线性光学、高强场物理、新型激光聚变、实验室天体物理等前沿领域.近年来,随着数拍瓦级乃至更高峰值功率激光装置的建成,超强激光与等离子体相互作用进入到一个全新的高强场范畴.这种极强激光场与等离子体相互作用蕴含着丰富的物理过程,除了经典的波与粒子作用、相对论效应、有质动力效应等非线性物理过程外,量子电动力学(QED)效应变得格外重要,例如辐射阻尼效应、正负电子对产生、强伽马射线辐射、QED级联、真空极化等.本文主要介绍我们近年来在极端强激光场与等离子体相互作用中激发的QED效应以及伴随的超亮强伽马射线辐射和稠密正负电子对产生等方面的研究进展.     

Inertial fusion research in China

The goal of the first milestone of the inertial fusion program in China is to reach fusion ignition and plasma burning in about 2020. Under the program, in the past years, the inertial fusion physics research achieved great progress; the laser facilities and the support technologies for laser drivers are advanced; the advanced diagnostic techniques are developed and the relatively integrated system is set up; the precise target fabrications are coordinately developed.     

Nanopatterning in a compact setup using table top extreme ultraviolet lasers

The recent development of table top extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lasers have enabled new applications that so far were restricted to the use of large facilities. These compact sources bring now to the laboratory environment the capabilities that will allow a broader application of techniques related to nanotechnology and nanofabrication. In this paper we review the advances in the utilization of EUV lasers in nanopatterning. In particular we show results of the nanopatterning using a table-top capillary discharge laser producing 0.12-mJ laser pulses with 1.2-ns time duration at a wavelength λ = 46.9 nm. The nanopatterning was realized by interferometric lithography using a Lloyd’s mirror interferometer. Two standard photoresists were used in this work, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ). Pillars with a full width half maximum (FWHM) diameter of 60 nm and holes with FWHM diameter of 130 nm were obtained over areas in excess of 500×500 μm².     

Research activities at the PALS research infrastructure

The Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS) Research Infrastructure (RI) in Prague, one of only four kJ-class laser facilities in EU, has been offering its beam time to European researchers for already 14 years, since 2004 in the framework of the LASERLAB-Europe consortium. Till June 2014, the PALS RI has provided 4313 experimental days for a total of 41 projects with 303 international users from 42 different research institutions. Its principal experimental facility is a terawatt sub-ns iodine laser (1315?nm) with an optional plasma-based zinc XUV laser (21.2?nm), and an auxiliary Ti:Sapphire fs laser (1?J, 70?fs) exploited for femtosecond plasma probing and experiments with synchronised femtosecond and sub-nanosecond laser pulses at mean laser intensities of up to 30?PW/cm². The lasers are equipped with several target facilities and rich sets of instruments for both active and passive plasma diagnostics. The PALS main research areas include development and applications of secondary laser sources of high-energy ions and both coherent and non-coherent high-intensity XUV radiation, laboratory astrophysical and inertial fusion-relevant studies. In this paper, the main results having been achieved at PALS in the framework of LASERLAB-EUROPE international access activities during the last four years are highlighted.     

Promising lines of investigations in the realms of laboratory astrophysics with the aid of powerful lasers

The results of work on choosing and substantiating promising lines of research in the realms of laboratory astrophysics with the aid of powerful lasers are presented. These lines of research are determined by the possibility of simulating, under laboratory conditions, problematic processes of presentday astrophysics, such as (i) the generation and evolution of electromagnetic fields in cosmic space and the role of magnetic fields there at various spatial scales; (ii) the mechanisms of formation and evolution of cosmic gamma-ray bursts and relativistic jets; (iii) plasma instabilities in cosmic space and astrophysical objects, plasma jets, and shock waves; (iv) supernova explosions and mechanisms of the explosion of supernovae featuring a collapsing core; (v) nuclear processes in astrophysical objects; (vi) cosmic rays and mechanisms of their production and acceleration to high energies; and (vii) astrophysical sources of x-ray radiation. It is shown that the use of existing powerful lasers characterized by an intensity in the range of 10¹⁸–10²² W/cm² and a pulse duration of 0.1 to 1 ps and high-energy lasers characterized by an energy in excess of 1 kJ and a pulse duration of 1 to 10 ns makes it possible to perform investigations in laboratory astrophysics along all of the chosen promising lines. The results obtained by experimentally investigating laser plasma with the aid of the laser facility created at Central Research Institute of Machine Building (TsNIIMash) and characterized by a power level of 10 TW demonstrate the potential of such facilities for performing a number of experiments in the realms of laboratory astrophysics.     

The relevance of HED lasers to astrophysics

The role of high energy density (HED) lasers in astrophysics is reviewed, emphasizing connections with laser physics experiments and inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Careful validation of astrophysical methods, by laboratory experiment, by critical comparison of numerical and analytical methods, and by observation are necessary for the development of simulation methods with reliable predictive capability. Recent results from hydrodynamic simulations of stellar evolution, HED laser experiments, and computer simulations will be discussed, and related to stellar evolution and supernovae.     

Particle accelerator physics and technology for high energy density physics research

Interaction phenomena of intense ion- and laser radiation with matter have a large range of application in different fields of science, extending from basic research of plasma properties to applications in energy science, especially in inertial fusion. The heavy ion synchrotron at GSI now routinely delivers intense uranium beams that deposit about 1 kJ/g of specific energy in solid matter, e.g. solid lead. Our simulations show that the new accelerator complex FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) at GSI as well as beams from the CERN large hadron collider (LHC) will vastly extend the accessible parameter range for high energy density states. A natural example of hot dense plasma is provided by our neighbouring star the sun, and allows a deep insight into the physics of fusion, the properties of matter at high energy density, and is moreover an excellent laboratory for astroparticle physics. As such the sun's interior plasma can even be used to probe the existence of novel particles and dark matter candidates. We present an overview on recent results and developments of dense plasma physics addressed with heavy ion and laser beams combined with accelerator- and nuclear physics technology.     

2.5-MeV neutron source controlled by high-intensity pulsed laser generating plasma

A laptop neutron source suited for the most demanding field or laboratory applications is presented. It is based on laser ablation of CD₂ primary targets, plasma acceleration of the D⁺ ions, and their irradiation of secondary CD₂ targets. The deuterium–deuterium (D-D) fusion reaction is induced in the secondary target, according to the values of fusion cross-section versus deuteron energy, which show a significant probability also at relatively low ion energies. The experiments were completed in the PALS laboratory, Prague, detecting monoenergetic neutrons at 2.45 MeV with an emission flux of about 10⁹ neutrons per laser shot. Other experiments demonstrating the possibility to induce D-D events were performed at IPPLM, Warsaw, and at INFN-LNS, Catania, where the deuterons were accelerated at about 4 MeV and 50 keV, respectively. In the last case, a low laser intensity and a post-ion acceleration system were employed. A special interaction chamber, under vacuum, is proposed to develop a new source of monochromatic neutrons or thermalized distribution of neutrons     

激光聚变极端环境下X光高速摄影技术研究进展

在激光惯性约束聚变（ICF）研究中,通过X光高速摄影获取的图像数据能够反映等离子体中由于做功和能量输运导致的流体状态的时空演化信息,与之相关的诊断技术与工程研究一直以来都是ICF诊断能力建设的重要组成部分。介绍了作为我国ICF工程的主要实施单位之一,中国工程物理研究院激光聚变研究中心近年来在X光高速摄影技术研究方面取得重要进展,包括:（1）面向神光系列激光装置,开发了系列工程化的100 ps曝光高速摄影相机,整体达到国际先进水平,并在高灵敏探测、透射式带通滤波和结构小型化等方面形成中国特色;（2）提出微扫描门控、同视扫描分幅等10 ps曝光X光高速摄影新技术,为突破时间分辨瓶颈做出有益尝试;（3）在国内率先开展抗辐射加固高速摄影相机理论设计、技术验证与工程设计;（4）针对激光聚变靶碎片对设备安全的威胁,在国内首次开展靶碎片的理论建模与仿真研究,并开展首次验证实验,取得重要进展。     

基于线性调频脉冲的光谱色散平滑技术实验研究

在激光驱动惯性约束聚变研究中,束靶高效耦合依赖于采用合适的束匀滑措施.目前,结合光谱色散平滑(smoothing by spectral dispersion,简称SSD)、相位板和光束叠加的技术是固体激光驱动器采用的主流束匀滑技术.瞄准间接驱动,实验研究了一套基于线性调频脉冲的SSD技术.在采用该技术后,远场色散方向上的高频调制得到了匀滑,色散后的近场也得到了匀滑.测量得到的光谱结构与理论模拟接近.该方法不需要相位调制器,而这类器件在传统SSD技术中是一个关键器件.     

Three-directional spectral dispersion for smoothing of a laser irradiance profile

In inertial confinement fusion research, uniform laser irradiation on a fusion target is a key issue. We propose a new method of beam smoothing in which we use three-directional spectral dispersion to reduce the coherent speckle that is unavoidable in the usual two-directional spectral-dispersion scheme. We have used this smoothing technique in a Nd:glass laser system and have demonstrated that the coherent speckle is reduced by a factor of 2.9 from that in two-directional spectral dispersion.     

Theory and experiment analysis of factors affecting THG efficiency for the TIL prototype laser facility

Based on the study and manufacture of the technical integration experiment line (TIL) prototype laser facility, and using the method that theoretical simulations guide experiments and experimental results check programs, the factors affecting third harmonic generation (THG) efficiency for a large-aperture, high-intensity inertial confinement fusion (ICF) laser facility have been analyzed and studied in detail. Furthermore, in the year 2004-2005, the output ability of a THG system for a TIL driver has been discussed adequately in a first beam eligibility experiment. As shown by experimental results, when the average drive irradiance of fundamental light, I_1ω, is 2.7 GW/cm², the measured value of THG efficiency is 50-55% and the theoretical value is 60%, which indicates that the experimental result agrees well with the theoretical value.     

神光-Ⅱ和神光-Ⅲ原型内爆对称性实验的模型分析

内爆靶丸的X光辐射驱动对称性分析和控制能力演示是惯性约束聚变(ICF)研究最重要的课题之一, 目前国内外已展开许多实验和模拟研究.建立了一种ICF内爆对称性分析的简化模型, 利用该模型分析了神光-Ⅱ和神光-Ⅲ 原型激光装置上的内爆对称性实验. 与实验结果比较表明,计算最佳腔长与实验值基本相符;靶丸压缩变形因子计算结果也与实验测量值接近. 模型的有效性得到验证,可为即将开展的神光-Ⅲ 主机内爆对称性实验参数设计和结果分析提供参考.     

Mercury and beyond: diode-pumped solid-state lasers for inertial fusion energy

We have begun building the Mercury laser system as the first in a series of new generation diode-pumped solid-state lasers for inertial fusion research. Mercury will integrate three key technologies: diodes, crystals and gas cooling, within a unique laser architecture that is scalable to kilojoules and megajoule energy levels for fusion energy applications. The primary near-term performance goals include 10% electrical efficiencies at 10 Hz and 100 J with a 2–10 ns pulse length at 1.047 μ m wavelength. When completed, Mercury will allow rep-rated target experiments with multiple chambers for high energy density physics research.     

NEUTRON TIME OF FLIGHT ENERGY SPECTROMETER FOR ICF ION TEMPERATURE DIAGNOSTIC

A current-mode neutron time-of-flight(nTOF) energy spectrometer for inertial confinement fusion(ICF) ion temperature measurements has been designed which will reduce measuring error of fusion neutron energy spectra when the neutron yield is low. The spectrometer consists of a shallow cup-shaped ST1422 fast plastic scintillator with a thicknees of 3mm and full effective volume of 104cm³, a microchannel plate photomultiplier tube(MCP-PMT), a piece of coaxial cable(SUJ-50-7) with a length of 20m, and a transient oscilloscope with a bandwidth of 7GHz. The main performances of the spectrometer and its components have been calibrated. The rise-time and FWHM of the temporal response function are 260ps and 850 ps, respectively. This spectrometer will be used to measure ion temperature in the direct-driven implosion experiments on Sheng-Guang 2 laser facility at Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanica(SIOFM) next year.