Theory of laser ion acceleration from a foil target of nanometer thickness

A theory for ion acceleration by ultrashort laser pulses is presented to evaluate the maximum ion energy in the interaction of ultrahigh contrast (UHC) intense laser pulses with a nanometer-scale foil. In this regime, the ion energy may be directly related to the laser intensity and subsequent electron dynamics. This leads to a simple analytical expression for the ion energy gain under the laser irradiation of thin targets. Significantly higher energies for thin targets than for thicker targets are predicted. The theory is concretized with a view to compare with the results and their details of recent experiments.     

Enhanced drilling using a dual-pulse Nd:YAG laser

A new method for improving the efficiency of laser drilling has been developed. Two synchronized free-running laser pulses from a tandem-head Nd:YAG laser are capable of drilling through 1/8-in-thick stainless-steel targets at a stand-off distance of 1 m without gas-assist. The combination of a high-energy laser pulse for melting with a properly tailored high-intensity laser pulse for liquid expulsion results in the efficient drilling of metal targets. We argue that the improvement in drilling is due to the recoil pressure generated by rapid evaporation of the molten material by the second laser pulse. Received: 29 August 2000 / Accepted: 18 December 2000 / Published online: 3 April 2001     

Processing for laser radar range images

Imaging laser radar can give intensity and range images, which provide integrated 3-dimensional (3D)information about objects. However, dropouts and range anomalies exacerbate range images, which makes their background cluttered and target blurred. For background suppression, a new algorithm that combines intensity image and its mean is presented. By using this algorithm to process actual laser radar range images, most background noises are suppressed. According to range anomalies characteristics, multitemplate selection order mean filtering algorithm is presented and used for actual ladar range images where the distance between two targets is 77 m. This algorithm obtains the clear range image in which the interval of two objects is 75 m. The result shows that the processing algorithm is correct and effective.     

激光武器反卫星技术研究

针对激光武器反卫星的机理进行分析和研究,得出两个结论:激光武器摧毁空间目标具有速度快、攻击空域广的特点,利用激光的光效应和高能热效应,直接照射卫星可以破坏其光电探测器,从而破坏敌方的卫星装置;建立了卫星探测器的一维热模型,在对探测器材料的破坏阈值进行理论计算的基础上,利用CW COIL辐照PV型InSb探测器对破坏阈值进行实验研究,二者数据吻合较好。     

新概念高能激光武器与强激光光学计量检测技术

新概念高能激光武器的研究与发展已有四十多年的历史。第一代高能激光武器主要采用连续波化学激光器，其输出功率可达百万瓦。第二代高能激光武器主要采用了波长更短的节能固体激光器件，其输出功率为100kW。与第一代高能化学激光武器采用超高能量直接烧毁杀伤目标不同，第二代高能固体激光武器寻求节能型杀伤方式，即以最小程度的破坏来实现致命杀伤的效果。随着高能激光武器的发展和实战部署，作为高能激光武器核心的高能激光系统总体性能参数(能量/功率、激光波形、光束质量、近场和远场的强度分布、光束指向稳定性、光谱和偏振特性等)的计量和测试显得尤为重要。文中围绕新概念高能激光武器的历史、研究现状和未来发展展开论述。高能激光武器系统的研制对强激光光学计量检测技术提出的新要求和挑战有助于推进强激光光学计量检测技术的发展。     

Phase transition model of water flow irradiated by high-energy laser in a chamber

In the absorption chamber of a high-energy laser energy meter, water is directly used as an absorbing medium and the interaction of the high-power laser and the water flow can produce a variety of physical phenomena such as phase transitions. The unit difference method is adopted to deduce the phase transition model for water flow irradiated by a high-energy laser. In addition, the model is simulated and verified through experiments. Among them, the experimental verification uses the photographic method, shooting the distribution and the form of the air mass of water flow in different operating conditions, which are compared with the simulation results. The research shows that it is achievable to reduce the intensity of the phase transition by increasing the water flow, reducing the power intensity of the beam, shortening the distance the beam covers, reducing the initial water temperature or adopting a shorter wavelength laser. The study＇s results will provide the reference for the design of a water-direct-absorption-type high-energy laser energy meter as well as an analysis of the interaction processes of other similar high-power lasers and water flow.     

Prototype of a test bench for applied research on Extracted beams of the nuclotron accelerator complex

The results of the development and testing of elements of a test bench for investigating the impact of accelerated particle beams on biological objects, electronics, and other targets are presented. The systems for beam monitoring and target positioning were tested on extracted argon beams in the framework of experiments on studying the radiation hardness of electronic components.     

Experimental Study of Laser Plasma of Low-Density Volume-Structured Targets

The results of a laser—matter interaction experiment are presented in the paper. Low-density volume-structured material (cellulose triacetate) is used as a target in the experiments. Low-density materials are of interest for both fundamental and applied research. The information on how the parameters of the target and laser radiation influence the penetration of laser radiation through the generated plasma layer is generalized. The energy, spatial, spectral, and temporal characteristics of the plasma of low-density cellulose triacetate targets are analyzed.

     

Submillimeter imaging with a pyroelectric TV camera

The use of a TV camera with a standard pyroelectric tube for imaging continuous submillimeter (submm) waves is described. The spectral sensitivity of such pyroelectric vidicon has been measured. The results of experiments on diffraction and interference using submm laser radiation are presented. For the first time, submm images of different objects have been obtained with the aid of a pyroelectric vidicon. It has been shown that a pyroelectric TV camera can be effectively employed in various laser studies as well as in submm imagery technique.     

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.     

High-intensity lasers as radiation sources

In the last decade or so, an evolution in experimental relativistic laser-plasma physics has led to highly sophisticated lasers which are now capable of generating ultra-short pulses and can be focused to intensities in excess of 10²¹ W cm^-2. The laser interaction with solid or gas targets can generate collimated beams of highly energetic electrons, protons and ions. These high-intensity laser systems, therefore, turn out to be versatile and powerful sources of radiation and high-energy particles, without recourse to large-scale facilities such as nuclear reactors or particle accelerators. The potential to induce various kinds of nuclear reactions with laser-induced radiation fields has been demonstrated at several laboratories in recent years. The present paper lays out a comprehensive overview of nuclear reactions induced by high-intensity laser matter interactions. Mechanisms for electron, proton and ion acceleration, in addition to secondary bremsstrahlung, positron and neutron production, are addressed, with a focus on the types of nuclear reactions that are possible and potential applications. Discussion of the extrapolation of these processes and applications to the next generation of table-top lasers under construction is also presented.     

Amplifier module of the “Del'fin” facility for thermonuclear plasma heating

The construction principle and the applicable system are considered for the highpower laser amplifier module of the “Del'fin” facility, intended for spherical heating of thermonuclear targets. Results are presented of investigations of the radiation parameters of the amplifier module under various operating regimes. The system for focusing the laser radiation on the target surfaces is described and the results of experiments on plasma heating by radiation of three composite laser beams, at a laser energy level up to 1 kJ at a flux density up to 10¹⁴ W/cm², are analyzed.     

Analysis of the formation and evolution of oriented microstructures on laser ablated silicon

A theoretical approach and qualitative analysis of the changes induced on the surface morphology and the formation of microstructures on silicon targets irradiated by excimer laser are presented. This study is based on theoretical principles of the laser ablation process, in particular, on the analysis of the contribution of the laser energy density, which involves the laser beam parameters and also the physical properties of the target material. For different laser incident angles, the formation of micro-columns oriented towards the laser incident direction is explained. Moreover, numerical simulations and ablation experiments carried out with an excimer laser corroborate the theoretical analysis.     

Streuung von Laserphotonen an schnellen Elektronen

The high laser intensity allows colliding-beam Compton scattering experiments of high-energy electrons with the photons of the red ruby laser light by which the latter are transformed intoγ-radiation photons. Detailed calculations are given in this paper for the “average” polarization over the scattered beam and for the energy spectrum of theγ-rays.     

Adaptive optics for airborne platforms—Part 2: controller design

In an airborne platform adaptive optics application, the inbound (beacon) and outbound (high-energy laser) wavefronts propagate through different regions of the atmosphere at different time instants, that is, spatial and temporal anisoplanatism cannot be neglected. Measurements in an airborne platform system are from the inbound (beacon) wavefront and therefore, the outbound, high-energy laser's wavefront phase distortion Zernike expansion coefficients must be estimated. Once the said estimates are available, these values are used by a linear quadratic regulator to drive the actuators of the deformable mirror. The controller, which consists of a Kalman filter estimator in tandem with the regulator, provides commands to the piezoelectric actuators of the deformable mirror. Thus, the estimated conjugate phase is applied to the mirror and, hence, to the outbound high-energy laser wavefront, such that at the aim point on the target, the high-energy laser wavefront distortion is minimized. In other words, the high-energy laser is correctly pointed to the aim point and the Strehl ratio is maximized. In this way, the correct deformation is applied to the deformable mirror and the benefits of adaptive optics are realized in an airborne platform application. In Part 2 of this paper, the design of the controller, that is, a Kalman filter and regulator, is addressed. The theoretical derivations are validated in extensive simulation experiments.     

Optical Imaging System with LaserGated Brightness Amplifier

l.IntroductionTheideaofusingahigh-gainactivemediumtoformbrightness-enhancedmicroscofr-.icimageswasproposedmorethan2oyearsago[1:.Introductionofbrightnessamplifierintousua1oPticalsystemwouldPermittoovercomethewellknownrestrictionaccordingtowhichthebrightnessattheoutputoftheopticalsystemcannotexceedthatatthein-put[zJ.SomepulsedmetalvaporlaserssuchasthecopPervaPOrlaser(CVL)havebeenusedasimage-brightnessamplifiersinvariousopticalprojectionsystem[3j-lnthiscase,wecanbenefitfromthattheactivemedium…     

高温材料自发射观察

为研究高温材料特性，设计并进行了特种靶激光打靶实验，观察到了Ｃ８Ｈ８碳氢有机膜样品的自发射，初步给出了用透射光栅谱仪测得的高温样品材料的自发射能谱。     

空腔靶能量吸收,转换特性实验研究

本文介绍空腔靶设计的物理思想、及能量吸收特性、X光转换特性和堵腔特性的实验研究方法,给出了实验观察到的一系列物理现象,通过对现象的分析而得出空腔靶的能量吸收和X光转换明显优于平面靶;利用相对孔径较大的聚焦透镜打空腔靶有利于改善靶的能量吸收和转换特性的结论。     

Plasma expansion into a vacuum

The charge separation effects in the collisionless plasma expansion into a vacuum are studied in great detail. Accurate results are obtained concerning the structure of the ion front, the resultant ion energy spectrum, and more specifically the maximum ion energy. These are of crucial importance for the interpretation of recent experiments, where high-energy ion jets were produced from short pulse interaction with solid targets.     

激光塑造大气透镜技术分析

激光塑造大气透镜(laser developed atmospheric lens,LDAL)是一种先进的太空监视概念,即利用高能激光在大气层形成类似于透镜的结构,实现敌方目标的有效监视.介绍这种概念的应用需求,详细分析了"激光塑造大气透镜"的产生机制和系统结构,深入讨论了其面临的技术挑战,包括大气透镜的形成效应、塑造...