Time-resolved soft x-ray spectra from laser-produced Cu plasma.

The volumetric heating of a thin copper target has been studied with time resolved x-ray spectroscopy. The copper target was heated by a plasma produced using the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Compact Multipulse Terawatt (COMET) laser. A variable spaced grating spectrometer coupled to an x-ray streak camera measured soft x-ray emission (800-1550 eV) from the back of the copper target to characterize the bulk heating of the target. Radiation hydrodynamic simulations were modeled in two-dimensions using the HYDRA code. The target conditions calculated by HYDRA were post-processed with the atomic kinetics code CRETIN to generate synthetic emission spectra. A comparison between the experimental and simulated spectra indicates the presence of specific ionization states of copper and the corresponding electron temperatures and ion densities throughout the laser-heated copper target.

Simultaneous high-resolution two-dimensional spatial and one-dimensional picosecond streaked x-ray pinhole imaging.

A Kentech x-ray streak camera was run at the LLNL compact multipulse terawatt (COMET) laser to record simultaneous space- and time-resolved measurements of picosecond laser-produced plasmas. Four different x-ray energy channels were monitored using broadband filters to record the time history of Cu targets heated at irradiances of 10(16)-10(19) W∕cm(2). Through the Cu filter channel, a time-resolution below 3 ps was obtained. Additionally, an array of 10 µm diameter pinholes was placed in front of the camera to produce multiple time-resolved x-ray images on the photocathode and time-integrated images on the phosphor with 10 and 15 times magnification, respectively, with spatial resolution of < 13 µm.

Development of a time-resolved soft x-ray spectrometer for laser produced plasma experiments.

A 2400 lines/mm variable-spaced grating spectrometer has been used to measure soft x-ray emission (8-22 Å) from laser-produced plasma experiments at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory's Compact Multipulse Terrawatt (COMET) Laser Facility. The spectrometer was coupled to a Kentech x-ray streak camera to study the temporal evolution of soft x rays emitted from the back of the Mylar and the copper foils irradiated at 10(15) W/cm(2). The instrument demonstrated a resolving power of ∼120 at 19 Å with a time resolution of 31 ps. The time-resolved copper emission spectrum was consistent with a photodiode monitoring the laser temporal pulse shape and indicated that the soft x-ray emission follows the laser heating of the target. The time and spectral resolutions of this diagnostic make it useful for studies of high temperature plasmas.

Calibration of a flat field soft x-ray grating spectrometer for laser produced plasmas.

We have calibrated the x-ray response of a variable line spaced grating spectrometer, known as the VSG, at the Fusion and Astrophysics Data and Diagnostic Calibration Facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). The VSG has been developed to diagnose laser produced plasmas, such as those created at the Jupiter Laser Facility and the National Ignition Facility at LLNL and at both the Omega and Omega EP lasers at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The bandwidth of the VSG spans the range of ∼6-60 Å. The calibration results presented here include the VSG's dispersion and quantum efficiency. The dispersion is determined by measuring the x rays emitted from the hydrogenlike and heliumlike ions of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, neon, and aluminum. The quantum efficiency is calibrated to an accuracy of 30% or better by normalizing the x-ray intensities recorded by the VSG to those simultaneously recorded by an x-ray microcalorimeter spectrometer.

Strong reduction of the degree of spatial coherence of a laser beam propagating through a preformed plasma.

A strong reduction of the spatial coherence of a laser beam after its propagation through a plasma has been measured using a Fresnel biprism interferometer. The laser beam was diffraction limited; the coherence width was reduced from 40 mm in vacuum down to a few mm with the plasma. Numerical results based on a paraxial model exhibit a coherence degree close to the experimental one; they also prove the importance of taking into account the nonlocal transport effects in numerical simulations for such plasma conditions.

Observation of ion acoustic waves associated with plasma-induced incoherence of laser beams using Thomson scattering.

We have carried out experiments to investigate the physical processes responsible for the recently discovered phenomenon of plasma-induced incoherence (PII) of a laser beam. Using a Thomson scattering diagnostic, we have observed ion acoustic waves (IAW) having wave vectors transverse to the interaction beam spectral and temporal characteristics of which show a clear correlation with other signatures of PII for various conditions of plasma density and laser intensity. These results support the recent theoretical interpretation for which the IAW result from the coupling between forward stimulated Brillouin scattering and self-focusing of the laser light in PII mechanisms.

Multibeam effects on fast-electron generation from two-plasmon-decay instability.

Experiments with multiple laser beams have been carried out in both spherical and planar geometry to study two-plasmon-decay instability, the predominant source of suprathermal electrons in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion experiments. These electrons are observed using the hard x rays generated through electron-target interactions. The experiments show for the first time that the total overlapped intensity governs the scaling of the suprathermal-electron generation regardless of the number of overlapped beams, in contrast to conventional theories that are based on the single-beam approximation.

Multibeam stimulated brillouin scattering from hot, solid-target plasmas.

We report on multibeam, laser-plasma interaction experiments in plasmas relevant to future direct-drive-ignition experiments. Six interaction beams are incident on preformed plasmas containing critical density. Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) shows strong evidence of electromagnetic wave seeding of side- and backscattering. The data are also consistent with shared ion waves driven by the six symmetrically arranged interaction beams. Early SBS quenching is observed and attributed to the hydrodynamics of the plasma.

Langmuir decay instability cascade in laser-plasma experiments.

Thomson scattering has been used to investigate the nonlinear evolution of electron plasma waves (EPWs) generated by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS). Two complementary diagnostics demonstrate the occurrence of the cascade of Langmuir decay instabilities (LDI). The EPW wave-number spectrum displays an asymmetric broadening towards small wave numbers, interpreted as a signature of the secondary EPWs produced in the LDI cascade. The number of cascade steps is in agreement with the broadening of the associated ion-acoustic-waves' spectra. The total energy transferred in the EPWs cascade is found to be either less than or of the same order of magnitude as the energy of the primary EPW.

Anomalous absorption of high-energy green laser light in high- z plasmas.

We observe strong anomalous absorption of green laser light in mm-scale high-temperature gold plasmas. Both the laser light absorption and the resulting increase of the electron temperature, which was measured independently with Thomson scattering, have been successfully modeled by including enhanced collisions due to heat-flux driven ion acoustic fluctuations. Calculations that include only inverse bremsstrahlung significantly underestimate the experimental laser absorption and the electron temperature.

Reduction of the coherence time of an intense laser pulse propagating through a plasma.

We present direct measurements of the coherence time of a laser beam after propagation through an underdense plasma. At an intensity of 10(14) W/cm(2), a large decrease of the coherence time is observed, from 300 ps to a few picoseconds. This decrease is larger as the plasma density is increased or as the light is scattered at larger angles. The amount of temporal decorrelation as well as the effect of the plasma density, laser intensity, and scattering angle all coincide with trends observed in recent numerical simulations.

Observation of plasma focusing of a 28.5 GeV positron beam.

The observation of plasma focusing of a 28.5 GeV positron beam is reported. The plasma was formed by ionizing a nitrogen jet only 3 mm thick. Simultaneous focusing in both transverse dimensions was observed with effective focusing strengths of order tesla per micron. The minimum area of the beam spot was reduced by a factor of 2.0+/-0.3 by the plasma. The longitudinal beam envelope was measured and compared with numerical calculations.

Three-dimensional theory of emittance in Compton scattering and x-ray protein crystallography.

A complete, three-dimensional theory of Compton scattering is described, which fully takes into account the effects of the electron beam emittance and energy spread upon the scattered x-ray spectral brightness. The radiation scattered by an electron subjected to an arbitrary electromagnetic field distribution in vacuum is first derived in the linear regime, and in the absence of radiative corrections; it is found that each vacuum eigenmode gives rise to a single Doppler-shifted classical dipole excitation. This formalism is then applied to Compton scattering in a three-dimensional laser focus, and yields a complete description of the influence of the electron beam phase-space topology on the x-ray spectral brightness; analytical expressions including the effects of emittance and energy spread are also obtained in the one-dimensional limit. Within this framework, the x-ray brightness generated by a 25 MeV electron beam is modeled, fully taking into account the beam emittance and energy spread, as well as the three-dimensional nature of the laser focus; its application to x-ray protein crystallography is outlined. Finally, coherence, harmonics, and radiative corrections are also briefly discussed.

Experimental evidence of plasma-induced incoherence of an intense laser beam propagating in an underdense plasma.

Time dependent large angular spreading and spectral broadening of an intense randomized laser beam propagating in an underdense, well-characterized plasma is measured. The two features are correlated and increase with laser intensity or plasma density. This spatial and temporal incoherence imposed upon the beam via the coupling with the plasma is interpreted, in agreement with recent numerical simulations, as due to the interplay between dynamical filamentation and strongly driven stimulated Brillouin forward scattering.

Nearly diffraction-limited laser focal spot obtained by use of an optically addressed light valve in an adaptive-optics loop.

We demonstrate correction of laser wave-front distortions by use of an adaptive-optical technique based on a light valve. The setup consists of an achromatic and adjustable-sensitivity wave-front sensor and a wave-front corrector relying on an optically addressed liquid-crystal spatial light modulator. Experimental results with strongly aberrated beams focused close to the diffraction limit are presented for the cw regime. Additional experiments with pulses and measurement of damage thresholds show that this approach is relevant for spatial phase correction of ultraintense laser pulses.

Monochromatic x-ray imaging of a laser produced plasma.

We show that high quality monochromatic x-ray images of an extended laser produced plasma can be obtained with a Johann spectrometer. Monochromatic x-ray shadowgraphy is also demonstrated with such a configuration. The versatility of this diagnostic is illustrated with measurements (spectroscopic and imaging) of some resonance transitions of neonlike copper.

Thomson scattering on a 20-psec time scale.

A technique for high resolution Thomson scattering is discussed. By coupling a spectrograph to a streak camera with high sensitivity detectors, time and spectrally resolved scattered signals are obtained. Time resolutions down to 20 psec have been achieved, with the primary limitation on this figure coming from temporal dispersion in the spectrograph. The results of some laser plasma interaction experiments designed to study plasma instabilities are presented.