Technique for producing a clean aligned pin-hole for a pulsed laser system

Pin-holes for use in recording double-exposure holograms have been made by piercing thin foil with the pulsed laser. Advantages of the technique are given.     

Saturation intensity for ultrashort-pulse X-ray laser schemes

Analytic expressions are obtained for the saturation intensity in X-ray laser schemes based on short-pulse high-intensity drivers. For field-ionized plasma schemes, the specific mean saturation intensityJ _sat is time independent and depends only on atomic transition probabilities, level degeneracies, and transition energies. The analytic expression is found to be in good agreement with a detailed numerical calculation. Integrating over space and frequency gives a saturation intensityI _sat of order 2 × 10¹¹ W/cm² for lasing in Li-like Ne at 98 . The low input energy requirements for this scheme (< 1 J), associated with using a confocal geometry, give energy efficiencies of order 10^–6 and greater. For inner-shell photo-ionization schemes, an accurate expression for a time-dependent saturation intensity is obtained. This scheme is calculated to have high saturation intensities,I _sat 10¹³ W/cm², at short wavelengths (5–15 ). The requirement of a line focus geometry leads to higher input energies (5 J) and the short duration of lasing (50 fs) results in lower energy efficiencies ( 10^–7). Repetition rates are important in determining appropriate applications for both schemes.     

Possible schemes for cyclic acceleration of electrons without emission of radiation

The motion of an electron or positron with acceleration along a curvilinear trajectory is accompanied by the continuous radiation of electromagnetic energy. The motion of an electron in the central force field of the atomic nucleus is not so accompanied. Atomic systems exhibit only quantum radiation, a phenomenon which can also manifest itself in accelerators under certain conditions. The paper reports a study of physically possible hydrogenlike nonradiating cyclic accelerators. The cyclic acceleration of a large number of electrons or positrons can be accompanied by the appearance of conditions under which there is no radiation or the radiation cancels out by interference in the volume of the beam. Radiation quenching occurs when the accelerated electrons and their radiation are in thermodynamic equilibrium.Presented May 20, 1971 at seminar held by Moscow State University Physics Faculty (supervisor Professor D. D. Ivanenko) and on May 19, 1972 at meeting of Electron Accelerators section of Scientific Council of USSR Academy of Sciences on accelerators.Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 10–15, October, 1973.     

A method for producing controllable double pulses from a Q-switched laser

A method is described for producing two controllable pulses from a Q-switched solid state laser, the time separation of the pulses being variable from about 30 nsec to a few microseconds. The technique involves Q-switching the system with a time variant loss which has two steps, the application of the first step only partially depleting the population inversion. The method has been demonstrated with an electro-optically Q-switched Nd:CaWO₄ laser.     

New lasers and laser schemes

Conclusion We have demonstrated the existence of an anomalous polarization coupling mechanism present in the injection locked TEA CO₂ laser. As a direct consequence of this work, a new injection technique has been formulated which permits efficient injection coupling and maximises energy extraction whilst eliminating the detrimental optical feedback effects to which other injection locking systems are prone.Supported by the Office of Naval Research and the National Science Foundation     

用于等离子体诊断的ps激光探针

 ps激光探针作为激光等离子体诊断的探针光源，它是通过两次倍频和两次受激喇曼散射，将波长为1 054nm、脉宽约为1ns激光转换成波长为308nm、脉宽小于30ps的紫外光。研究结果表明：探针光系统输出能量大于1mJ，脉宽小于30ps，均匀性较好，运行成功率大于90%，满足了激光等离子体诊断的要求。     

短波红外成像系统对激光光斑探测能力分析

通过短波红外探测器灵敏度、目标和环境探测输出信噪比、对比度等分析,计算给出不同大气能见度、环境照度条件下,短波红外热像对外界景物和激光光斑的探测距离,并对理论分析进行试验验证。结果表明,在大气能见度1 km~3 km、环境照度1 lx~1 000 lx、阈值信噪比2.25~10、阈值对比度0.01~0.02的条件下,短波红外热像对激光光斑探测距离为0 km~3.5 km。     

Role of the ionospheric plasma in the formation of a shortwave radiation field in the environment

Using a model formulation, we study how the ionospheric plasma affects the formation of a short-wave electromagnetic field in near space by an operating broadcasting network. The principles underlying the construction of the model and the methods of solution are elucidated. An analysis is made of the variation of the global distribution of anthropogenic electromagnetic background for specific heliogeophysical conditions. Zones of maximum electromagnetic energy density are distinguished in the ionospheric plasma. V. D. Kuznetsov Siberian Physicotechnical Institute, Tomsk State University. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Fizika, No. 10, pp. 16–23, October, 1996.     

Method for producing nanomaterials in the plasma of a low-pressure pulsed arc discharge

A new method for the production of nanomaterials in the plasma of a low-pressure arc discharge is developed and experimentally studied. This method can be used to synthesize nanoparticles 5–10 nm in size with a narrow size distribution. In this method, a low-pressure arc discharge is used to melt a material, to disperse the molten material, to deliver liquid material droplets to the plasma, to cool the liquid nanoparticles forming in the plasma up to their solidification, and to deposit the solidified nanoparticles onto a substrate.     

Faraday-rotation method for magnetic-field diagnostics in a laser plasma

The possibility of using the Faraday effect for the diagnostics of magnetic fields in a dense plasma is theoretically demonstrated. A procedure for measuring the plane of polariztion of the probing radiation is examined in detail, with account taken of the wave polarization and of the presence of plasma self-luminosity. A procedure for determining the spatial distribution of the magnetic field is described. A new three-channel polarointerferometer scheme is proposed. The idea behind the method is illustrated with reconstruction of the magnetic fields in a laser plasma as an example.Laser-Plasma Laboratory, Lebdev Physics Institute. Translated from Preprint No. 135 of the Lebedev Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Moscow, 1989.     

Design of capillary Z-pinch plasma for a soft X-ray laser

An analysis for designing capillary Z-pinch plasma as an alternative active medium of soft X-ray laser is presented. The validity of calculation results are verified by experiment. Namely, the specification of driving current as well as the predicted pinch time is in good agreement with the experimental results. This study also reveals the possibility of reducing the main charging voltage without degrading the performance of the X-ray laser.     

Experimental verification of laser photocathode RF gun as aninjector for a laser plasma accelerator

The feasibility of the laser photocathode RF gun, BNL/GUN-IV, as an injector for a laser plasma accelerator was investigated at the subpicosecond S-band twin linac system of the Nuclear Engineering Research Laboratory, University of Tokyo. Electron beam energy of 16 MeV, emittance of 6π mm mrad, bunch length of 240 fs (FWHM), and charge per bunch of 350 pC were confirmed at 10 Hz. As for diagnosis of the femtosecond electron bunch, the quantitative comparison of performance of the femtosecond streak camera, the coherent transition radiation (CTR) Michelson interferometer, and the far-infrared polychromator was carried out. We concluded that the streak camera is the most reliable up to 200 fs and that the polychromator is the best for the shorter electron bunch. The 3.5-ps (rms) resolved synchronization between the YLF laser driver for the gun and the electron bunch was achieved. Based on the above experiences, we have designed and installed a much better laser-electron synchronization system using the Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:Sapphire laser with the min harmonics synchrolocker and the stable 15-MW klystron. The timing jitter is expected to be suppressed down to 320 fs (rms)     

Possible excitation of a fast sodium beam by laser irradiation

We present results of model calculations concerning the fraction of excited atoms obtained by laser irradiation of a fast sodium atom beam (100–400 eV kinetic energy). We calculated relative absorption probabilities as a function of the intersection angle between the two beams, the atom-beam energy, the atom-beam energy spread and the atom-beam divergence. The fraction of excited atoms that can be obtained at 300 eV is at least a factor of 5 smaller than in the case of a thermal beam, due to the divergence and energy spread of the fast atom beam giving rise to a large Doppler broadening.     

Diffractive optical elements and quasioptical schemes for experiments on a high-power terahertz free-electron laser

We have developed reflective diffraction optical elements (DOE) for focusing monochromatic coherent radiation of 400 W terahertz Novosibirsk free-electron laser (FEL). Operational characteristics of two modifications of the refractive kinoform lenses were studied. Quasioptical Toepler system with terahertz radiation recording by a thermosensitive luminescent screen was fabricated for the examination of film and solid deformation. A system for real-time terahertz radioscopy of objects with image recording with a microbolometer matrix (MBM) was fabricated. Images of objects illuminated with a plane wave or diffuse radiation were studied with the MBM. It was shown that the speckle pattern, which appears in the second case, can be averaged by means of the scatterer rotation.     

激光等离子体加速器的兴起与发展

激光等离子体加速器是近几十年来在世界范围内兴起的一种新型粒子加速器,它在科学研究和日常生活中都有着广泛的应用前景。文章分别从激光电子加速与激光离子加速两方面介绍了它的基本原理与实验发展历程。作为一个新生事物,它取得许多振奋人心的结果,同时也面临着一系列挑战。文章最后对激光等离子体加速器的发展和应用进行了归纳和展望。     

Various techniques for producing a single longitudinal mode TEA-CO2 laser

Techniques used for producing a single longitudinal mode TEA-Co₂ laser are described. The simplest technique seems to be a double unstable resonator.     

Preparing a laser cooled plasma for stopping highly charged ions

We present a new cooling scheme for the preparation of highly charged ions for future in-trap precision experiments. A plasma of laser cooled ²⁴Mg⁺ ions trapped in a 3D harmonic confinement potential is used as a stopping medium for the highly charged ions. We focus on the dynamic evolution of the plasma, determining suitable cooling conditions for fast recooling of the ²⁴Mg⁺ ions. The results of a realistic parallel simulation of the complete stopping process presented here indicate that a small, constant detuning of the laser frequency is sufficient for subsequent recooling of the plasma, thus maintaining the stability of the plasma.     

Soft-x-ray laser interferometry of a plasma with a tabletop laser and a Lloyd's mirror

We report what is believed to be the first demonstration of soft-x-ray interferometry of a plasma with a tabletop soft-x-ray laser. A Lloyd's mirror interferometer was used in combination with a very compact lambda = 46.9 nm capillary-discharge-pumped laser to map the electron density in the cathode region of a pinch plasma.