Interaction of intense ultrashort laser pulse with shell target

Based on numerical PIC modeling and an analytical model, we analyze the interaction of a short high-intensity laser pulse with homo- and heterogeneous (two-layer) shell targets. We show that the shell target is capable of focusing ions in a narrow region. In this case, the ion energy exceeds the ion energy for a flat infinite target of the same thickness. We propose to use the effect of focusing and cumulation of ions to implement the collision of ionic beams that counterpropagate from opposite sides of the sphere and to increase the yield of ion-ion reactions. The constructed model makes it possible to calculate the energy of the ion and the number of ions in the region of focusing.     

Plasma ion evolution in the wake of a high-intensity ultrashort laser pulse

Experimental investigations of the late-time ion structures formed in the wake of an ultrashort, intense laser pulse propagating in a tenuous plasma have been performed using the proton imaging technique. The pattern found in the wake of the laser pulse shows unexpectedly regular modulations inside a long, finite width channel. On the basis of extensive particle in cell simulations of the plasma evolution in the wake of the pulse, we interpret this pattern as due to ion modulations developed during a two-stream instability excited by the return electric current generated by the wakefield.     

Spectral analysis of K-shell X-ray emission of magnesium plasma produced by ultrashort high-intensity laser pulse irradiation

Spectral analysis of K-shell X-ray emission of magnesium plasma, produced by laser pulses of 45 fs duration, focussed up to an intensity of ～10¹⁸ W cm^?2, is carried out. The plasma conditions prevalent during the emission of X-ray spectrum were identified by comparing the experimental spectra with the synthetic spectra generated using the spectroscopic code PrismSPECT. It is observed that He-like resonance line emission occurs from the plasma region having sub-critical density, whereas K-α emission arises from the bulk solid heated to a temperature of 10 eV by the impact of hot electrons. K-α line from Be-like ions was used to estimate the hot electron temperature. A power law fit to the electron temperature showed a scaling of I ^0.47 with laser intensity.     

Backscattering of a high-intensity ultrashort laser pulse from a solid target at oblique incidence

The results of experimental measurement and analytical estimation of the coefficient of backward reflection from targets made of various materials upon their irradiation by a picosecond laser pulse having the intensity of (0.8–4) × 10¹⁸ W/cm² are presented. It is shown that the induced surface instability leads to the formation of a profile backscattering the incident radiation. The coefficient of backward reflection achieves a few percent and has an intensity optimum depending on the target material.     

Absorption of a laser light pulse in a dense plasma

An experimental study of the absorption of a laser light pulse in a transient, high-density, high-temperature plasma is presented. The plasma is generated around a metallic anode tip by a fast capacitive discharge occurring in vacuum. The amount of transmitted light is measured for plasmas made of different metallic ions in the regions of the discharge of high electronic density. Variation of the transmission during the laser pulse is also recorded. Plasma electrons are considered responsible for the very high absorption observed.     

On the possibility of the amplification of subterahertz electromagnetic radiation in a plasma channel created by a high-intensity ultrashort laser pulse

The evolution of the electron energy distribution function in a plasma channel in a xenon plasma at atmospheric pressure created by radiation of a KrF femtosecond laser has been considered. It has been shown that, owing to the existence of the Ramsauer minimum in the transport scattering cross section, such a channel can be used to amplify electromagnetic waves up to the terahertz frequency range at relaxation times of the energy spectrum of ～10^?7 s. The gain factor has been calculated as a function of the time and radiation frequency.     

Enhancement of a 24.77-nm line emitted by the plasma of a boron nitride capillary discharge irradiated by a high-intensity ultrashort laser pulse

Investigations of plasma produced by a boron nitride capillary discharge irradiated with a guided 20-TW Ti: sapphire laser pulse at a peak intensity of 4 x 10(18) W/cm2 are presented. The guided laser radiation in the plasma channel generated He-like ions that, subject to suitable plasma temperature, recombined into Li-like nitrogen ions. Intense radiation at a wavelength of 24.77 nm was observed, indicating possible lasing at the 3d(5/2) - 2p(3/2) transition in Li-like nitrogen.     

On self-focusing of an ultrashort intense relativistic laser pulse in a plasma

The development of the spatiotemporal (filamentation) instability of a laser pulse upon excitation of a plasma wave is studied numerically and analytically. It is shown that first, as in a medium with inertialless cubic nonlinearity, the filamentation of radiation occurs and then filaments are attracted to each other. The following evolution differs weakly from the evolution of a smoothed wave beam in a medium with inertial nonlinear response.     

Single-shot wave-front measurements of high-intensity ultrashort laser pulses with a three-wave interferometer

A simple new three-wave interferometric technique is used to measure, for what is believed to be the first time, the wave front of femtosecond ultrahigh-peak-power pulses carrying a strong B integral (B = 5.26+/-0.15) in a single shot. Wave-front distortions of a terawatt-class laser system are measured with good accuracy (lambda/50) and discussed. These distortions can significantly reduce the focused peak intensity, emphasizing the necessity of implementing adaptive optics in ultrahigh-intensity chirped-pulse amplification lasers.     

有质动力对超短脉冲激光与固体等离子体相互作用的影响

 通过测量由等离子体临界面移动造成的反射激光的频移，研究了有质动力对超短脉冲激光与固体等离子体相互作用的影响。实验表明，当激光强度达到10¹⁷ W/cm²时，有质动力将明显地降低等离子体热膨胀速度，造成极陡的密度分布，使得等离子体中的主导吸收机制，由共振吸收转换为真空吸收。     

有质动力对超短脉冲激光与固体等离子体相互作用的影响

通过测量由等离子体临界面移动造成的反射激光的频移,研究了有质动力对超短脉冲激光与固体等离子体相互作用的影响。实验表明,当激光强度达到1017 W/cm2时,有质动力将明显地降低等离子体热膨胀速度,造成极陡的密度分布,使得等离子体中的主导吸收机制,由共振吸收转换为真空吸收。     

Excitation of hydrogen atom by ultrashort laser pulses in optically dense plasma

The features of excitation of a hydrogen atom by ultrashort laser pulses (USP ) with a Gaussian envelope in optically dense plasma at a Lyman‐beta transition are studied theoretically. The problem is of interest for diagnostics of optically dense media. USP have two doubtless advantages over conventional laser excitation: (a) the USP carrier frequency is shifted to the region of short wavelengths allowing exciting atoms from the ground state and (b) the wide spectrum of USP allows them to penetrate into optically dense media to much longer distances as compared with monochromatic radiation. As actual realistic cases, two examples are considered: hot rarefied plasma (the coronal limit) and dense cold plasma (the Boltzmann equilibrium). Universal expressions for the total probability of excitation of the transition under consideration are obtained in view of absorption of radiation in a medium. As initial data for the spectral form of a line, the results of calculations by methods of molecular dynamics are used. The probability of excitation of an atom is analysed for different values of problem parameters: the pulse duration, the optical thickness of a medium, and the detuning of the pulse carrier frequency from the eigenfrequency of an electron transition.     

超短激光脉冲

概述了超短激光脉冲技术的发展进程、研究进展及其在液态分子研究方面、超快现象等领域的应用。     

超短脉冲激光诱导周期性表面结构

激光诱导周期性表面结构（Laser-induced periodic surface structures,LIPSS）具有纳米尺度的特征结构和自重复的微观尺度的排列图案,因此,LIPSS在传感器、太阳能发电、光催化等方面具有广泛的应用前景。本文首先介绍LIPSS形成过程中超快激光与物质相互作用的复杂过程,强调瞬态光学性质和表面结构变化的作用。然后综述几种具有代表性的LIPSS形成机理,并且讨论了各自的优缺点。接着介绍了LIPSS形成过程中材料的变化,主要包括材料化学成分、晶体结构和表面微观结构的变化。最后综述了LIPSS在材料表面处理、光学和机械等方面的应用。     

Interaction of intense CO2 laser radiation with a dense laser produced carbon plasma

A high density laser produced carbon plasma is heated with the beam from a pulsed CO₂ laser. The evolution of the electron density profiles is studied by interferometry.     

Mechanisms for second harmonic generation in the interaction of a superintense ultrashort laser pulse with cluster plasma

The effects of the interaction of an intense femtosecond laser pulse with large atomic clusters are considered. The pulse intensity is of the order of 10¹⁸ W cm^?2. New effects appear when the magnetic component of the Lorentz force is taken into account. The second harmonic of laser radiation is generated. The second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency is proportional to the square of the number of atoms in a cluster and the square of the laser radiation intensity. The resonance increase in the SHG efficiency at the Mie frequencies (both at the second harmonic frequency and fundamental frequency) proved to be insignificant because of the fast passage through the resonance during cluster expansion. The mechanisms of the expansion and accumulation of energy by electrons and ions in the cluster are discussed in detail. The energy accumulation by electrons mainly occurs due to stimulated inverse bremsstrahlung upon elastic reflection of the electrons from the cluster surface. The equations describing the cluster expansion take into account both the hydrodynamic pressure of heated electrons and the Coulomb explosion of the ionized cluster caused by outer shell ionization. It is assumed that both inner shell and outer shell ionization is described by the over barrier mechanism. It is shown that atomic clusters are more attractive for the generation of even harmonics than compared to solid and gas targets.     

紫外超短脉冲激光的单次测量

 利用瞬态光栅衍射法研制了一台单次频率分辨光学开关激光参数测量仪,可以对脉宽范围在10 ps以内的紫外超短脉冲激光进行单次测量。利用该仪器对重复频率为10 Hz的放电泵浦和单次运行的电子束泵浦KrF准分子激光器的输出脉冲分别进行了单次测量,结果表明：对于放电泵浦,当系统工作在零啁啾附近时,脉冲波形和光谱分布较规则,相位分布起伏较小,当系统偏离零啁啾状态时,脉冲波形和光谱分布不再规则,并且相位分布为抛物线结构;对于单次运行的电子束泵浦,脉冲波形具有多峰结构,光谱具有复杂的调制,脉宽约为2 ps,带宽约为1.3 nm,相位分布为抛物线结构。     

紫外超短脉冲激光的单次测量

利用瞬态光栅衍射法研制了一台单次频率分辨光学开关激光参数测量仪,可以对脉宽范围在10 ps以内的紫外超短脉冲激光进行单次测量。利用该仪器对重复频率为10 Hz的放电泵浦和单次运行的电子束泵浦KrF准分子激光器的输出脉冲分别进行了单次测量,结果表明：对于放电泵浦,当系统工作在零啁啾附近时,脉冲波形和光谱分布较规则,相位分布起伏较小,当系统偏离零啁啾状态时,脉冲波形和光谱分布不再规则,并且相位分布为抛物线结构;对于单次运行的电子束泵浦,脉冲波形具有多峰结构,光谱具有复杂的调制,脉宽约为2 ps,带宽约为1.3 nm,相位分布为抛物线结构。