Detuned raman amplification of short laser pulses in plasma

The recently proposed scheme of so-called "fast compression" of laser pulses in plasma can increase peak laser intensities by 10(5) [Phys. Rev. Lett. 82, 4448 (1999)]. The compression mechanism is the transient stimulated Raman backscattering, which outruns the fastest filamentation instabilities of the pumped pulse even at highly overcritical powers. This Letter proposes a novel nonlinear filtering effect that suppresses premature backscattering of the pump in a noisy plasma layer, while the desired amplification of a sufficiently intense seed persists with a high efficiency. The effect is of basic interest and also makes it robust to noise the simplest technologically fast compression scheme.     

Quasi-adiabatic compression of a plasma column by a longitudinal magnetic field

Approximate 1.5-dimensional MHD equations are derived that describe the quasi-adiabatic compression of a thin plasma column by a longitudinal magnetic field. The parameters of the compressed plasma are obtained analytically as functions of the initial conditions and longitudinal field. The stability of plasma compression against the Rayleigh-Taylor instability is investigated. It is shown that, in the Z-Θ-pinch geometry, increasing the longitudinal magnetic field makes it possible to achieve radial compression ratios of 20–30 without violating the cylindrical symmetry of the column. The possibility of thermonuclear ignition in a thin plasma column in a Z-Θ-pinch configuration is studied. The ranges of the initial plasma densities and temperatures and the initial lengths of the plasma column that are needed to achieve ignition in a plasma compressed by a factor of 20–30 are determined. The parameters of the electromagnetic energy source required to achieve such a high plasma compression are estimated.     

Guiding of intense laser beams in highly ionized plasma columns generated by a fast capillary discharge

We have demonstrated the guiding of laser pulses with peak intensities up to 2.2 x 10(17) W/cm(2) in a 5.5 cm long plasma column containing highly charged Ar ions generated by a fast capillary discharge. A rapid discharge-driven hydrodynamic compression guides progressively lower order modes through a plasma with increasing density and degree of ionization, until the guide collapses on axis. The lowest order mode (FWHM approximately 50 microm) is guided with 75% transmission efficiency shortly before the plasma reaches the conditions for lasing in Ne-like Ar. The subsequent rapid plasma expansion forms a significantly leakier and more absorbent guide.     

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.     

Titanium plasma spectroscopy studies under double pulse laser excitation

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was applied for parametric studies of titanium (Ti) plasma using single and double pulsed laser excitation scheme. Here a pulsed Nd:YAG laser was employed for generation of laser produced plasma from solid Ti target at ambient pressure. Several ionized titanium lines were recorded in the 312–334 nm UV region. The temporal evolution of plasma parameters such as excitation temperature and electron number density was evaluated. The effect of incident laser irradiance, position of the laser beam focal point with respect to the surface of illumination, single and double laser pulse effect on plasma parameters were also investigated. This study contributes to a better understanding of the LIBS plasma dynamics of the double laser pulse effect on the temporal evolution of various Ti emission lines, the detection sensitivity and the optimal dynamics of plasma for ionized states of Ti. The results demonstrate a faster decay of the continuum and spectral lines and a shorter plasma life time for the double pulse excitation scheme as compared with single laser pulse excitation. For double pulse excitation technique, the emissions of Ti lines intensities are enhanced by a factor of five which could help in the improvement of analytical performance of LIBS technique. In addition, this study proved that to avoid inhomogeneous effects in the laser produced plasma under high laser intensities, short delay times between the incident laser pulse and ICCD gate are required.     

Shock compression and thermodynamics of highly nonideal metallic plasma

Using experimental data on compression and heating of dense metallic plasma by powerful shock waves, we have analyzed the effect of strong Coulomb interaction on both discrete and continuum bands of energy spectrum, the role of short-range repulsion, and the effect of degeneracy on the equation of state for a dense, nonideal metallic plasma. Explosive devices have been used to produce plasma for which the degree of ionization, nonideal parameter, and degeneracy varied over wide ranges. In order to increase effects of irreversible energy dissipation, metal targets of low densities have been used. Thermodynamic measurements have been compared to theoretical models taking into account Coulomb interaction, short-range repulsion, and degeneracy of electrons. The plasma models have been shown to be applicable to the equilibrium properties of multiply ionized plasma in a wide region of the phase diagram characterized by extremely high parameters [T⩾10⁴ K, P⩾10 GPa, and ρ=(0.1–1)ρ ₀], which is beyond the traditional domain of plasma physics. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 114, 1242–1265 (October 1998)     

激光等离子体中高能电子各向异性压强的粒子模拟

直接驱动惯性约束聚变(ICF)的实现需要对靶丸进行严格的对称压缩,以达到自持热核反应(点火)所需的条件.快点火方案的应用降低了对靶丸压缩对称性以及驱动能量的要求,但压缩及核反应过程中良好的靶丸对称性无疑有助于核反应增益的提高.本文研究了快点火方案中高能电子注入高密等离子体后导致的各向异性电子的压强张量.这一现象存在于ICF快点火方案中的高能电子束"点火"及核反应阶段.鉴于高能电子加热离子过程以及靶丸核反应自持燃烧过程的时间较长,高密靶核会由于超高的各向异性压强的作用破坏高密靶丸的对称性,降低核燃料密度,进而降低了核燃料燃烧效率以及核反应增益.     

The study of the wake field effects on the self-focusing and the compression of the laser pulse in plasma at the relativistic regime by Lagrangian method

The trial function in the variational-Lagrangian method is a fundamental method to explain the essential features of the laser pulse evolution in the plasma. Self-focusing behavior and compression of the laser pulse in plasma are analyzed, for both low and high intensity regimes. It is shown that the compression threshold depends on both pulse intensity and pulse length. In particular, in both regimes, the compression threshold is directly proportional to the pulse length. This is while this threshold is directly, in the linear regime, and inversely, in the nonlinear regime, proportional to pulse intensity. In the present work, the existence of oscillations is revealed, with a behavior akin to laser pulse width. Finally, the effects of pulse intensity, pulse length, and plasma density on compression are analyzed.     

X-ray spectroscopy diagnostics of a recombining plasma in laboratory astrophysics studies

The investigation of a recombining laser plasma is topical primarily because it can be used to simulate the interaction between plasma jets in astrophysical objects. It has been shown that the relative intensities of transitions of a resonance series of He-like multicharged ions can be used for the diagnostics of the recombining plasma. It has been found that the intensities of the indicated transitions for ions with the nuclear charge number Z _n ~ 10 are sensitive to the plasma density in the range N _e ~ 10¹⁶–10²⁰ cm^–3 at temperatures of 10–100 eV. The calculations performed for the F VIII ion have determined the parameters of plasma jets created at the ELFIE nanosecond laser facility (Ecole Polytechnique, France) in order to simulate astrophysical phenomena. The resulting universal calculation dependences can be used to diagnose different recombining plasmas containing helium-like fluorine ions.     

激光等离子体消融参量的测量与计算

本文首次直接利用离子测量的结果,对实验数据进行理论分析与计算,详细讨论了激光等离子体,特别是线状激光等离子体的消融参量,给出了它们对激光辐照强度的定标律。     

13.56 MHz/2 MHz柱状感性耦合等离子体参数的对比研究

通过Langmuir双探针和发射光谱诊断方法,对比研究了驱动频率为13.56 MHz和2 MHz柱状感性耦合等离子体中电子密度和电子温度的径向分布规律.结果表明:在高频和低频放电中,输入功率的增加对等离子体参数产生了不同的影响,高频放电中主要提升了电子密度,低频放电中则主要提升了电子温度.固定气压为10 Pa,分别由高频和低频驱动时,电子密度的径向分布均为"凸型".而电子温度的分布差异比较明显,高频驱动时,电子温度在腔室中心较为平坦,在边缘略有上升;低频驱动时,电子温度随径向距离的增加而逐渐下降.为了进一步分析造成这种差异的原因,在相同放电条件下采集了氩等离子体的发射光谱图,利用分支比法计算了亚稳态粒子的数密度,发现电子温度的径向分布始终与亚稳态粒子的径向分布相反.继续升高气压到100 Pa,发现不论高频还是低频放电,电子密度的径向分布均从"凸型"转变为"马鞍形",较低气压时电子密度的均匀性有了一定的提升,但低频的均匀性更好.     

对应于铜离子X射线激光条件下的等离子体基本参数和光谱结构

本文是在复合泵浦类钠铜软X射线激光系统实验基础上,对该体系的等离子体参数、光谱结构进行测量和分析,给出了类钠铜离子粒子数反转,增益系数与等离子体参数及发射谱结构的内在联系。文中也给出了不同激光功率对各种等离子体参数、光谱结构的影响。     

Investigation on RF styrene plasma by emission spectroscopy

In order to gain an insight into the processes in an RF styrene plasma, gas phase plasmas were investigated by emission spectroscopy. The plasma reactor was a bell-jar-type chamber with two parallel plate electrodes. The measurement of plasma emission spectra was made with axial resolution. The correlations among the emission intensities of CH and C₄H₂⁺ species, the polymer deposition rate and the polymeric structure of the deposited films were studied. The proposed analysis showed that the gas flow pattern in the plasma reactor, and the difference in collisions between styrene monomer molecules and energetic free electrons occurring in the plasma region and RF sheath, made the fragments and ions produced change in the different regions, resulting in a change in polymeric structure and deposition rate of the polymer films. With increasing distance between the substrate position and the lower electrode, the deposition rate and the concentration of phenyl groups both at the polymer surface and in the bulk decreased     

Steepest descent inversion of plasma spectral intensities

An iterative inversion of the spectral intensities emitted by an asymmetric and absorbing plasma is considered. The iteration procedure is the method of steepest descent in two forms: steplengths for largest residual reduction in each iteration, and steplengths independent of iteration, and related to the largest eigenvalue of the matrix operator for the normal equations. The effects of both constrained and unconstrained optimization, as well as of two different initial conditions, are reported. Inversions are shown of reversed and nonreversed line profiles.     

Combination of RF-plasma jet and Laser-induced plasma for breakdown spectroscopy analysis of complex materials

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy method is modified using an external radiofrequency (RF) plasma jet that overlaps spatially with the laser-induced plasma. Short UV laser pulses (wavelength 193 nm) are employed to ablate iron oxide ceramics, zinc oxide ceramics and polyethylene pressed pellets in ambient air background. An RF generator (frequency 13.56 MHz, power ≤1 kW) and a gas nozzle system are employed to generate a continuous jet of argon and nitrogen plasma expanding into air. The optical emission of the overlapped plasma is analyzed using an Echelle spectrometer equipped with an intensified CCD camera. The time dependence of optical emission intensities and of plasma parameters is investigated by varying the spectrometer delay time with respect to the laser pulse. The emission intensities of major (Fe, Zn) and minor (Mn, Al) elements are moderately increased with the RF plasma jet (≤2×). The intensities of atomic lines and molecular bands from ablated polymer material are increased also.     

双频容性耦合等离子体密度径向均匀性研究

利用自主研制的全悬浮双探针, 对影响双频容性耦合等离子体径向均匀性的因素进行了研究. 发现低频功率、放电气压和放电间距对径向均匀性有明显影响. 合适的低频功率、放电气压及较大的极板间距可以得到更均匀的等离子体. 采用与实验相同的放电参数, 利用改进的二维流体模型进行理论模拟, 得到了不同极板间距下径向离子密度分布, 并和实验测量结果进行了比较, 两者的变化趋势基本符合. 关键词： 双频容性耦合等离子体 径向均匀性 全悬浮双探针 二维流体模型     

HL-2A装置大拉长比和三角形变等离子体位形设计

介绍了基于MATLAB 程序自主开发的等离子体位形编辑和设计代码SE,包括其设计原理、主要功能、人机界面和操作步骤。通过SWEQU 代码对SE代码的准确性进行了有效验证,分别用上述两种代码设计和验证了两种具有中等拉长比和三角形变位形的放电参数。具有较高拉长比和三角形变位形的实现需要投入装置的上偏滤器线圈来突破圆形截面的限制。最后通过SE代码编辑了一个较大拉长比和三角形变的等离子体位形,并获得了相应的放电参数。结果表明,在HL-2A 装置投入上偏滤器线圈后,可以得到具有较大拉长比和三角形变的新等离子体位形,这些位形为提高HL-2A 等离子体的品质奠定了坚实的基础。     

超声速等离子体射流的数值模拟

基于可压缩的全Naiver-Stokes方程，利用PHOENICS程序对由会聚 辐射阳极形状等离子体炬产生的超声速等离子体射流进行了数值模拟.考虑了等离子体的黏性、可压缩性以及变物性对等离子体射流特性影响.研究了超声速等离子体射流的流场结构特性以及不同环境压力对等离子体射流产生激波结构的影响.结果表明，超声速等离子体射流在喷口附近形成的周期性激波结构是其和环境气体相互作用的结果. 关键词： 等离子体炬 超声速等离子体射流 PHOENICS     

Amplification of ultrashort laser pulses by a resonant Raman scheme in a gas-jet plasma

Raman amplification of subpicosecond laser pulses up to 95 times is demonstrated at corresponding frequencies in a gas-jet plasma. The larger amplification is accompanied by a broader bandwidth and shorter pulse duration. Theoretical simulations show a qualitative agreement with the measurements, and the effects of the plasma conditions and laser intensities are discussed.