Influence of an ambipolar field and target boundary blurring on transition radiation from fast electrons of laser plasma

It is shown that the blurring of the rear side of a thin laser target leads to a decrease in the intensity of higher harmonics in the spectrum of coherent transition radiation and that the scale of the boundary inhomogeneity can be estimated from the amplitude ratio of harmonics. Deceleration of the electron flow in an ambipolar electric field at the rear boundary of a target leads to a decrease in the intensity of lower harmonics in the spectrum of coherent transition radiation, and the strength of the ambipolar field can be estimated from the amplitude ratio of harmonics. A change in the permittivity of a dielectric laser target with frequency can lead to an increase in the intensity of some harmonics in the spectrum due to the Vavilov-Cherenkov mechanism.     

利用渡越辐射研究超热电子在固体靶中的输运过程

为了探索超热电子的输运过程，在100 TW掺钛蓝宝石飞秒激光器上利用光学CCD相机和OMA光学多道分析仪，分别在靶背表面法线方向测量了光发射空间分布图案和光谱. 实验测量结果显示，光发射空间分布图案呈圆盘状，在圆盘中明亮而强的光信号呈局部化分布，该现象表明，超热电子在输运的过程中存在成丝效应，引起严重的不稳定性；光发射光谱在3倍频和3/2倍频附近出现尖峰，分别是3次谐波和3/2次谐波，这一现象归因于超热电子束在传输的过程中产生的微束团而引起的相干渡越辐射(CTR)；光发射光强随靶厚度的增加而减小. 关键词： 超热电子 相干渡越辐射 输运 不稳定性     

近相对论强度激光与薄膜靶相互作用中靶厚度对超热电子发射方向的影响

研究了近相对论强度的激光脉冲与薄膜靶相互作用中，靶厚度对超热电子发射方向的影响.实验发现，随着靶厚度的增加，靶后超热电子的发射方向向靶的法线方向移动，同时电子束的发散角变大.结果分析表明，靶背面电荷分离场强度的变化是影响电子发射方向的主要原因. 关键词： 飞秒激光脉冲 超热电子 靶厚度     

正交偏振双色激光场作用下高次谐波的椭偏特性研究

通过数值求解二维含时薛定谔方程,理论研究了正交偏振双色激光场作用下H2+分子高次谐波发射和孤立阿秒脉冲的产生. 数值结果显示,改变激光场的强度比,可以调控高次谐波强度以及谐波椭偏率. 结果表明随着场强比的增加,y方向的谐波强度不断提高. 当场强比为1:2.5时,x方向和y方向分别仅有奇次谐波和偶次谐波产生,并且偶次谐波的强度比奇次谐波强度高2-3个数量级. 此时,奇次谐波的椭偏率最大可以达到0.3,偶次谐波的椭偏率接近于0. 此外,通过改变分子的准直角可以控制谐波的椭偏率,基于这一现象,利用椭圆偏振高次谐波的平台区合成了椭偏率为0.05的椭圆偏振阿秒脉冲链.     

强激光和超薄等离子体薄膜相互作用产生高次谐波

通过一维粒子（particle in cell,简称PIC）模拟，研制了超薄等离子体薄膜在两列旋转方向相反的圆偏振激光脉冲作用下的高次谐波辐射。在10^21W/cm^2强度的激光作用下，可以获得200次以上的高次谐波。当激光脉冲宽度较短时，由于等离子体薄膜被压缩所导致的多普勒频移对高次谐波产生了显著的频率调制。而这种多普勒频移可以通过对抽运光脉冲引入频率啁啾来补偿。     

High-order harmonics from solid targets as a probe for high-density plasmas

The interaction of 100-fs Ti:sapphire laser pulses with thin foil targets was experimentally investigated at intensities exceeding 10(18) W/cm(2). High harmonics were observed in transmission through an overdense plasma in the direction of the incident beam. From the cutoff frequency of the harmonics an electron density of 1 x 10(24) cm(-3) is inferred, indicating a compression of the plasma by the ponderomotive force of the laser pulse.     

利用渡越辐射研究超热电子束的传输特性

 为了探索超热电子束的传输特性，利用光学CCD相机在靶背法线方向测量了光学渡越辐射积分成像图案。实验在100 TW掺钛蓝宝石激光器上进行，飞秒激光与固体靶作用后，靶表面发光信号由空间分辨装置聚焦成像并引到CCD狭缝上。在厚度为20 μm的Ta靶背表面观测到渡越辐射光斑呈现较平滑的圆形结构，而且中心亮度高于周围，这包含了非相干与相干渡越辐射的成分，与理论模拟结果接近；在厚度为100 μm的Ta靶背表面观测到渡越辐射光斑呈现出星状结构，光斑较小，与高能质子发射出现的星状结构极其相似；在复合靶背表面观测到渡越辐射光斑虽然也呈现大致的圆形结构，但光斑较大，而且极不均匀，中间有很明显的光斑分裂。     

超热电子产生的靶后相干渡越辐射光谱实验研究

利用OMA光学多道分析仪测量了激光与薄膜靶相互作用中产生的辐射光谱，在靶后观察到红移的二次谐波发射. 这种二次谐波是v×B加热产生的、具有微脉冲结构的超热电子束在等离子体-真空边界产生的相干渡越辐射(CTR). 随着激光能量的增大，红移峰向长波方向移动，光谱同时发生展宽. 分析认为，等离子体临界面的迅速膨胀是导致二次谐波红移的主要原因. 随着预脉冲能量的增大，临界面膨胀速度增大，导致了发射峰更大的红移. 实验还测量了靶面法线方向的辐射光谱，观察到基频辐射的红移和展宽. CTR为诊断临界面的运动方向和速度提供了一种新的方法. 关键词： 相干渡越辐射 超热电子 超短超强激光 等离子体相互作用     

超热电子输运背向光辐射的实验研究

在100TW掺钛蓝宝石飞秒激光器上利用光学CCD相机和光学多道分析仪,分别在靶背法线方向测量了超热电子光辐射的空间分布和光谱.测量结果显示：光辐射空间分布图案呈圆环状,而辐射区域有发散角和光强分布,且包含多种辐射成分.光辐射光谱在800nm附近出现尖峰,是激光的基频(ω₀)波,这一现象归因于超热电子束在输运的过程中产生的微束团而引起的相干渡越辐射(CTR).随着激光能量的增加,CTR光谱峰向红光方向移动,基频波红移的主要原因是由于等离子体临界面的迅速膨胀.如果考虑超热电 关键词： 超热电子 光辐射 共振吸收 红移     

Evidence of ultrashort electron bunches in laser-plasma interactions at relativistic intensities

The second harmonic of the laser light (2omega(0)) is observed on the rear side of thick solid targets irradiated by a laser beam at relativistic intensities. This emission is explained by the acceleration by the laser pulse in front of the target of short bunches of electrons separated by the period (or half the period) of the laser light. When reaching the rear side of the target, these electron bunches emit coherent transition radiation at 2omega(0). The observations indicate that, in our conditions, the minimum fraction of the laser energy transferred to these electron bunches is of the order of 1%.     

Plasma jets driven by ultraintense-laser interaction with thin foils

Experimental evidence of plasma jets ejected from the rear side of thin solid targets irradiated by ultraintense (>10(19) W cm(-2)) laser pulses is presented. The jets, detected by transverse interferometric measurements with high spatial and temporal resolutions, show collimated expansion lasting for several hundreds of picoseconds and have substantially steep density gradients at their periphery. The role played by radiation pressure of the laser in the jet formation process is highlighted analytically and by extensive two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.     

Amplitude and rotation of the ellipticity of harmonicsfrom a linearly polarized laser field

We simulate the dynamic response of H₂⁺ in a linearly polarized laser field by numerically solving the time-dependent Schrödinger equation. The elliptically polarized high-order harmonics generated by H₂⁺ irradiated by the linearly polarized laser field are systematically investigated. The result shows that the amplitude and rotation of the ellipticity of harmonics are affected by the alignment angle and internuclear distance of the molecule. Analyzing the change in forces acted on the ionized electrons and the trajectories of the electrons, the phenomena are found to be due to the change in the direction of the total Coulomb forces from the two nuclei felt by the recollided ionized electrons in the direction perpendicular to the laser polarization direction. Based on the influence law, we can select the harmonics with a specific frequency band under different alignment angles and then synthesize the isolated attosecond pulses with different rotations, which can be continuously converted from right-handed circular polarization, linear polarization, and left-handed circular polarization by changing the alignment angle. This study provides a new possible approach to the real-time detection of molecular states by using attosecond pulses and obtaining more optimized harmonics with molecular properties.     

飞秒激光与固体靶相互作用中自生磁场的测量

 利用OMA光学多道分析谱仪，分别在激光镜反方向和接近靶面法线方向测量了2倍频谐波的精细结构。在激光功率密度为5×10¹⁷ W/cm²的条件下，通过散射光2倍频谐波谱的精细结构，回推出激光与等离子体相互作用中产生的自生磁场达100T量级。     

超短超强激光与固体靶相互作用中发射质子的截止能量估算

 根据超短超强激光与固体靶相互作用中质子靶前表面加速和靶后表面加速两种机制,对在SILEX-I激光器上进行的质子加速实验中获得的质子最大截止能量进行了估算,认为实验中质子产生的主要机制是靶后表面加速。同时结果表明：对该装置的实验条件,靶前表面加速机制可以产生质子的最大能量约为2 MeV;靶后表面加速机制可以产生的质子的最大能量约11 MeV。另外用Multi2005程序计算了激光器信噪比对靶后表面加速机制的影响。计算表明：SILEX-I激光器信噪比达到108∶1时,预脉冲对用5 μm靶时鞘层加速电场的影响可以忽略。     

Experimental investigations of fast-proton production in a picosecond laser plasma

Results of experimental investigations of fast-proton production in a laser plasma are presented for the case where the intensity of laser radiation at the targets is 2 × 10¹⁸ W/cm². Three processes of fast-proton acceleration in laser plasma are investigated: (1) the acceleration of protons from the front surface toward the laser pulse, (ii) the acceleration of protons from the front surface of the target toward its interior, and (iii) the acceleration of protons from the rear foil surface in the outward direction. The activation procedure and CR-39 tracker detectors featuring a set of various-thickness aluminum filters were used to record fast protons. It turned out that the proton-acceleration process is the most efficient in the case of proton acceleration from the rear foil surface in the outward direction. Experimental results revealed that about N _p = 10⁷ protons of energy in the region E _p > 1.9 MeV that are accelerated from the target surface toward a laser ray, N _p = 4× 10⁷ protons of energy in the region E _p > 1.9 MeV that are accelerated fromthe front surface of the target toward its interior, and N _p = 4×10⁸ protons of energy in the region E _p > 1.9 MeV that are accelerated from the rear foil surface in the outward direction are generated at a laser-radiation intensity of 2 × 10¹⁸ W/cm² at the surface of aluminum, copper, and titanium targets. Experimental investigations aimed at optimizing the process of proton acceleration from the rear surface of aluminum foils were performed by varying the foil thickness over the range between 1 and 100 μm. The results of these experiments showed that there is an optimum foil thickness of 10 μm, in which case protons of maximum energy 5 MeV are generated.     

Three-dimensional simulations of ion acceleration from a foil irradiated by a short-pulse laser

Using 3D particle-in-cell simulations we study ion acceleration from a foil irradiated by a laser pulse at 10(19) W/cm(2) intensity. At the front side, the laser ponderomotive force pushes electrons inwards, thus creating the electric field by charge separation, which drags the ions. At the back side of the foil, the ions are accelerated by space charge of the hot electrons exiting into vacuum, as suggested by Hatchett et al. [Phys. Plasmas 7, 2076 (2000)]. The transport of hot electrons through the overdense plasma and their exit into vacuum are strongly affected by self-generated magnetic fields. The fast ions emerge from the rear surface in cones similar to those detected by Clark et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 670 (2000)].     

Laser-triggered quasi-monoenergetic ion beams at a moderate intensity and pulse duration

Plasma produced by short laser pulses from thin homogeneous foils with light and heavy ions is capable of generating quasi-monoenergetic light ions. This happens for the tail of light ions near the front of heavy ions. It was found that this effect is well pronounced for a moderate laser intensity (～10¹⁸ W/cm²) and pulse duration (～1 ps) by using a 2D particle-in-cell simulation of the laser interaction with thin CD₂ foils. Quasi-monoenergetic deuterons form a jet from the rear side of the foil with the energy ～1 MeV. The conversion efficiency to these quasi-monoenergetic ions is 10^?3.     

Generation of even harmonics in a relativistic laser plasma of atomic clusters

It is shown that the irradiation of atomic clusters by a superintense femtosecond laser pulse gives rise to various harmonics of the laser field. They arise as a result of elastic collisions of free electrons with atomic ions inside the clusters in the presence of the laser filed. The yield of even harmonics whose electromagnetic field is transverse is attributed to the relativism of the motion of electrons and the consideration of their drift velocity associated with the internal ionization of atoms and atomic ions of a cluster. These harmonics are emitted in the same direction as odd harmonics. The conductivities and electromagnetic fields of the harmonics are calculated. The generation efficiency of the harmonics slowly decreases as the harmonic number increases. The generation of even harmonics ceases when the drift velocity of electrons becomes equal to zero and only the oscillation velocity of electrons is nonzero. The results can also be applied to the irradiation of solid-state targets inside a skin layer.     

Generation of harmonics during the interaction of ultrashort superstrong laser pulses with solid targets

Generation of even and odd harmonics in the skin layer formed during the interaction of a short relativistic laser pulse with solid targets is considered. The complex motion of free electrons in the skin layer along the electric field vector and along the direction of propagation of a laser wave is analyzed. The Fourier expansion of the trajectory of this motion is used to obtain the components of the conductivity tensor and of the amplitude of the transverse electromagnetic field of harmonics propagating along the electric field. Even harmonics appear due to relativistic effects. The efficiency of generation of even and odd harmonics at the leading front of a laser pulse is calculated.     

Stability analysis of stratified coating flow of shear-thinning fluids

Fast adiabatic plasma heating of a thin solid target irradiated by a high intensity laser has been observed by optical fast interferometry diagnostic. It is driven by the hot electron current induced by the laser plasma interaction at the front side of the target. Radial and longitudinal temperature profiles are calculated to reproduce the observed rear side plasma expansion. The main parameters of the suprathermal electrons have been calculated from these observations.