Simulation of electron bunch generation by an ultrashort-pulse high-intensity laser-driven wakefield

Electron acceleration due to a wakefield excited by a ultrashort-pulse intense laser propagating through a finite-length underdense plasma layer is studied by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation. The electron energy distribution is analyzed for moderate to high intensity. For the electron density, where the pulse length is almost half of the plasma wavelength, dramatic changes of the density structure occur with cavity and bunch formation with an increase in the laser intensity, also leading to the appearance of a fast electron component well confined in phase space. The analytical form of the fast electron energy spectrum is also presented.     

Photo- and Thermochromic Spirans. New Metal Chelates Based on Azomethines and Hydrazones Containing a Spiropyran Fragment

Imine- and hydrazone-based metal chelates containing a spiropyran fragment derived from 3-methyl-4-oxo[2H]-1,3-benzoxazinone were prepared. Attempts are made to monitor the photochromic activity of spiropyran using nontraditional -acceptor substituents (products of condensation of the formyl group in 6"-dimethyl-8"-formylspiro-(4-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,3-benzoxazine-2,2"-[2H]chromene) with o- aminophenol and aromatic acid hydrazides) and using transition metal ions.     

Synthesis of new spiropyranes and study of the effect of the nature of substituents on their photochromism and complexation

A series of new hydrazones based on 3,3-dimethyl-7-hydroxy-8-formyl-[2H]-1-benzopyran-2,1-[2]-oxaindane] with the substituents of different nature in the hydrazone moiety was synthesized. A comparative study of photochromism and complexation of the synthesized spiropyrans with a number of metal cations was carried out. Spectral and kinetic differences in photochromism and complexation of these compounds were revealed.     

Demonstration of laser-frequency upshift by electron-density modulations in a plasma wakefield

In a plasma wake wave generated by a high power laser, modulations of the electron density take the shape of paraboloidal dense shells, moving almost at the speed of light. A counterpropagating laser pulse is partially reflected from the shells, acting as relativistic flying mirrors, producing a time-compressed frequency-multiplied pulse due to the double Doppler effect. The counterpropagating laser pulse reflection from the plasma wake wave accompanied by its frequency multiplication (with a factor from 50 to 114) was detected in our experiment.     

Characterization of preformed plasmas with an interferometer for ultra-short high-intensity laser-plasma interactions

The evolution of an Al preformed plasma produced by a prepulse was observed before and after the arrival of the main pulse by an interferometer using a femtosecond probe pulse. A central density depression due to the ponderomotive force of the main laser pulse in the preformed plasma with a 100 m scale length was clearly visible after the main pulse irradiation at an intensity of 5×10¹⁶ W/cm². The temporal profiles of the prepulse, characterized by a cross-correlation in conjunction with a precise density profile measurement by an interferometer, contribute to the better understanding of femtosecond laser-matter interactions. PACS 52.38.-r; 52.50.Jm; 52.70.-m     

Synthesis of Biomimetic Materials from Collagen and Hydroxyapatite

Russian Journal of Applied Chemistry - New approach is described to synthesis of biomimetic materials on the basis of hydroxyapatite particles and collagen suspension produced from fish-production...     

Controlling the generation of high frequency electromagnetic pulses with relativistic flying mirrors using an inhomogeneous plasma

A method for the controlled generation of intense high frequency electromagnetic fields by a breaking Langmuir wave (relativistic flying mirrors) in a gradually inhomogeneous plasma is proposed. The wave breaking threshold depends on the local plasma density gradient. Compression, chirping and frequency multiplication of an electromagnetic wave reflected from relativistic mirrors is demonstrated using Particle-In-Cell simulations. Adjusting the shape of the density profile enables control of the reflected light properties.     

Explosive plasma-vortex optical radiation sources

The results of experimental study of explosive radiation sources based on pulsed injection of a cumulative plasma jet into atmospheric air are considered. The injection process is accompanied with intense vortex formation as well as the formation of a large-scale toroidal plasma vortex. High-power electromagnetic radiation in the optical range is generated due to shock-wave processes during deceleration of a plasma jet in air and plasma-chemical processes in the vortex. The temporal structure of a radiation pulse being generated contains components from the micro- and millisecond range. For a 20-g mass of the explosive charge, a peak radiation power of 300 kW/sr and an energy yield of 400–600 J/sr integrated over the emission spectrum are attained. The efficiency of conversion of the chemical energy of the explosive into radiation is 5.0–7.5%.