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High-resolution, high-sensitivity X-ray imaging is a real challenge in high-energy density plasma experiments. We present an improved design of the Fresnel ultra high-resolution imager instrument. Using an Ultra-High-Intensity (UHI) laser to generate hot and dense plasma in a small volume of an Al-Ti mixed target provides simultaneous imaging of both Al and Ti X-ray emission. Specifically, the Al Heβ (or Lyβ) and the Ti Heα lines are imaged with a resolution of (2.7 ± 0.3) μm and (5.5 ± 0.3) μm, respectively. It features two transmission Fresnel phase zone plates fabricated on the same substrate, each associated with a multilayer mirror for spectral selection. Their spatial resolution has been measured on the PTB synchrotron radiation facility laboratory at BESSY II and on the EQUINOX laser facility. Results obtained on an UHI experiment highlight the difference of emission zone sizes between Al and Ti lines and the versatility of this instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate, both experimentally and numerically, the backward stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) excited collectively by two laser pulses. The experiments have been carried out at the LULI facility using two co-propagating 1-µm wavelength, 1.5-ps duration laser pulses focused in a preformed underdense plasma. A particular emphasis is laid on the configuration where the pulses are focused side-by-side, with a lateral distance of 80-90 µm, but not simultaneously. It is experimentally demonstrated that a weak-intensity speckle, ineffective when fired alone in a preformed plasma, yields a significant SRS-induced reflectivity if launched a few picoseconds after a strong one. The data have been obtained by using both highly space-time resolved Thomson diagnostics and space-resolved SRS reflectivity measurements. By choosing either parallel or orthogonal polarizations for the two laser pulses, our experiments shed light on the role of either electrostatic or electromagnetic seeding in enhancing SRS from weak-intensity speckles. A major finding is that seeding operates over unexpectedly long times (15-20 ps under our experimental conditions). Similar results are obtained in lower-density plasmas, or when the weak pulse is smoothed by a random phase plate, thus leading to multiple speckle interaction, while the strong pulse is focused within the speckle pattern. The data are discussed with the help of particle-in-cell numerical simulations, which confirm the destabilizing effect of the strong pulse over the weak one after a short transient time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution, high-sensitivity X-ray imaging is a real challenge in laser plasma diagnostic to attain reliable data in high-energy density plasma experiments. In this context, ultra-high-intensity lasers generate hot and dense plasma but only in a small volume. An experiment has been performed at the LULI2000 laser facility to diagnose such plasma conditions from thermal spectroscopic data. To image the emission zone plasma's Al Heβ, a Fresnel-lens-based X-ray imager has been developed. It features a 846 μm-diameter Fresnel Phase Zone Plate (FPZP) and a Pd/B4C multilayer mirror (thickness d = 5.1 nm). This association can be used between 1500 eV and 2100 eV. The FPZP's efficiency was measured on a synchrotron facility (SOLEIL) and its spatial resolution in a laser facility (EQUINOX). The mirror reflectivity was measured on the synchrotron facility BESSY II. With experimental conditions, the system resolution reaches 3.8 ± 0.6 μm with an adequate efficiency in the 1800 eV-1900 eV energy range with a solid angle of 9 × 10-6 sr. Consequently, a FPZP is an excellent optics setup for high-resolution quasi-monochromatic X-ray imaging and provides a good collection angle. Bragg-Fresnel lenses, based on the principle of FPZP and mirrors, are currently designed for an X-ray imager at the Laser MégaJoule facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optical diagnostics, such as VISAR (Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflector) or SOP (Streaked Optical Pyrometry), have become essential in shock timing experiments. Their high precision allows for accurate measurements of shock velocities, chronometry, and brightness temperature. However, in some instances, these measurements can be compromised. In planar shock coalescence experiments recently performed at the LULI facility [Baton et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 195002 (2012)], VISAR signal loss was observed. In these experiments, a strong shock launched by a high-intensity spike catches up with a previously shock launched by an earlier, lowintensity beam. The disappearance of the VISAR signal is attributed to a preheating of the coronal plasma by x-rays generated by the high intensity spike. The signal does not disappear if the highintensity spike starts after VISAR probe beam begins to reflect off of the first shock. The VISAR diagnostic, modeled using an assessment of the optical index in quartz, compares favorably to experimental results. This provides evidence that x-ray preheating can cause blanking of the VISAR signal in quartz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present results on laser-driven relativistic electron beam propagation through aluminum samples, which are either solid and cold or compressed and heated by laser-induced shock. A full numerical description of fast electron generation and transport is found to reproduce the experimental absolute Kα yield and spot size measurements for varying target thicknesses, and to sequentially quantify the collisional and resistive electron stopping powers. The results demonstrate that both stopping mechanisms are enhanced in compressed Al samples and are attributed to the increase in the medium density and resistivity, respectively. For the achieved time- and space-averaged electronic current density, 〈jh〉 ~ 8 × 1010 A/cm² in the samples, the collisional and resistive stopping powers in warm and compressed Al are estimated to be 1:5 keV/μm and 0:8 keV/μm, respectively. By contrast, for cold and solid Al, the corresponding estimated values are 1:1 keV/μm and 0:6 keV/μm. Prospective numerical simulations involving higher jh show that the resistive stopping power can reach the same level as the collisional one. In addition to the effects of compression, the effect of the transient behavior of the resistivity of Al during relativistic electron beam transport becomes progressively more dominant, and for a significantly high current density, jh ~ 1012 A/cm², cancels the difference in the electron resistive stopping power (or the total stopping power in units of areal density) between solid and compressed samples. Analytical calculations extend the analysis up to jh = 1014 A/cm² (representative of the full-scale fast ignition scenario of inertial confinement fusion), where a very rapid transition to the Spitzer resistivity regime saturates the resistive stopping power, averaged over the electron beam duration, to values of ~1keV/μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photon detector suitable for the measurement of bremsstrahlung spectra generated in relativistically intense laser-solid interactions is described. The Monte Carlo techniques used to extract the fast electron spectrum and laser energy absorbed into forward-going fast electrons are detailed. A relativistically intense laser-solid experiment using frequency doubled laser light is used to demonstrate the effective operation of the detector. The experimental data were interpreted using the 3-spatial-dimension Monte Carlo code MCNPX [D. Pelowitz, MCNPX User's Manual Version 2.6.0, Los Alamos National Laboratory, 2008], and the fast electron temperature found to be 125 keV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast-electron beam stopping mechanisms in media ranging from solid to warm dense matter have been investigated experimentally and numerically. Laser-driven fast electrons have been transported through solid Al targets and shock-compressed Al and plastic foam targets. Their propagation has been diagnosed via rear-side optical self-emission and Kα X-rays from tracer layers. Comparison between measurements and simulations shows that the transition from collision-dominated to resistive field-dominated energy loss occurs for a fast-electron current density ~5 × 1011 A cm−2. The respective increases in the stopping power with target density and resistivity have been detected in each regime. Self-guided propagation over 200μm has been observed in radially compressed targets due to ~1kT magnetic fields generated by resistivity gradients at the converging shock front. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The capacity to launch a strong shock wave in a compressed target in the presence of large preplasma has been investigated experimentally and numerically in a planar geometry. The experiment was performed on the LULI 2000 laser facility using one laser beam to compress the target and a second to launch the strong shock simulating the intensity spike in die shock ignition scheme. Thanks to a large set of diagnostics, it has been possible to compare accurately experimental results with 2D numerical simulations. A good agreement has been observed even if a more detailed study of the laser-plasma interaction for the spike is necessary in order to confirm that this scheme is a possible alternative for inertial confinement fusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic experimental and computational investigation of the effects of three well characterized density scalelengths on fast electron energy transport in ultra-intense laser-solid interactions has been performed. Experimental evidence is presented which shows that, when the density scalelength is sufficiently large, the fast electron beam entering the solid-density plasma is best described by two distinct populations: those accelerated within the coronal plasma (the fast electron pre-beam) and those accelerated near or at the critical density surface (the fast electron main-beam). The former has considerably lower divergence and higher temperature than that of the main-beam with a half-angle of ∼20°. It contains up to 30% of the total fast electron energy absorbed into the target. The number, kinetic energy, and total energy of the fast electrons in the pre-beam are increased by an increase in density scalelength. With larger density scalelengths, the fast electrons heat a smaller cross sectional area of the target, causing the thinnest targets to reach significantly higher rear surface temperatures. Modelling indicates that the enhanced fast electron pre-beam associated with the large density scalelength interaction generates a magnetic field within the target of sufficient magnitude to partially collimate the subsequent, more divergent, fast electron main-beam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast ignition requires a precise knowledge of fast electron propagation in a dense hydrogen plasma. In this context, a dedicated HiPER (High Power laser Energy Research) experiment was performed on the VULCAN laser facility where the propagation of relativistic electron beams through cylindrically compressed plastic targets was studied. In this paper, we characterize the plasma parameters such as temperature and density during the compression of cylindrical polyimide shells filled with CH foams at three different initial densities. X-ray and proton radiography were used to measure the cylinder radius at different stages of the compression. By comparing both diagnostics results with 2D hydrodynamic simulations, we could infer densities from 2 to 11 g/cm3 and temperatures from 30 to 120 eV at maximum compression at the center of targets. According to the initial foam density, kinetic, coupled (sometimes degenerated) plasmas were obtained. The temporal and spatial evolution of the resulting areal densities and electrical conductivities allow for testing electron transport in a wide range of configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relativistic electron transport induced by an ultraintense picosecond laser is experimentally investigated using an x-ray two-dimensional imaging system. Previous studies of the electron beam divergence [R. B. Stephens et al. Phys. Rev. E 69, 066414 (2004), for instance] were based on an x-ray imaging of a fluorescence layer buried at different depths in the target along the propagation axis. This technique required several shots to be able to deduce the divergence of the beam. Other experiments produced single-shot images in a one-dimensional geometry. The present paper describes a new target design producing a single-shot, two-dimensional image of the electrons propagating in the target. Several characteristics of the electron beam are extracted and discussed and Monte Carlo simulations provide a good understanding of the observed beam shape. The proposed design has proven to be efficient, reliable, and promising for further similar studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of experiments performed at the LULI laboratory, using the 100 TW laser facility, on the study of the propagation of fast electrons in gas targets. The implemented diagnostics included chirped shadowgraphy and proton imaging. Proton images showed the presence of very large fields in the gas (produced by charge separation). In turn, these imply a strong inhibition of propagation, and a slowing down of the fast electron cloud as it penetrates in the gas. Indeed chirped shadowgraphy images show a reduction in time of the velocity of the electron cloud from the initial value, of the order of a fraction of c, over a time scale of a few picoseconds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present experimental and numerical results on the propagation and energy deposition of laser-generated fast electrons into conical targets. The first part reports on experimental measurements performed in various configurations in order to assess the predicted benefit of conical targets over standard planar ones. For the conditions investigated here, the fast electron-induced heating is found to be much weaker in cone-guided targets irradiated at a laser wavelength of 1.057 μm, whereas frequency doubling of the laser pulse permits us to bridge the disparity between conical and planar targets. This result underscores the prejudicial role of the prepulse-generated plasma, whose confinement is enhanced in conical geometry. The second part is mostly devoted to the particle-in-cell modeling of the laser-cone interaction. In qualitative agreement with the experimental data, the calculations show that the presence of a large preplasma leads to a significant decrease in the fast electron density and energy flux near the target rear side. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmonics of the laser light have been observed from the rear side of solid targets irradiated by a laser beam at relativistic intensities. This emission evidences the acceleration of subfemtosecond electron bunches by the laser pulse in front of the target. These bunches emit coherent transition radiation (CTR) when passing through the back surface of the target. The spectral features of the signal recorded for targets of thicknesses up to several hundred microns are consistent with the electrons being accelerated by both the laser electric field—via vacuum heating and/or resonance absorption,—and the v×B component of the Lorentz force. The spatial study of the radiation shows that the relativistic electrons causing the CTR radiation are coherent and propagate ballistically through the target, originating from a source with a size of the order of the laser focal spot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The propagation of a short and intense laser pulse (1.057 µm, 350 fs, 10[sup 17] W/cm²-2 ×10[sup 19]W/cm²) through preformed undercritical plasmas (≈5%-40% of n[sub c]) has been experimentally investigated on the 100-TW laser facility at the Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation des Lasers Intenses. The transmission and reflection of the 1 @m laser pulse, the forward- and backward-Raman (respectively, F-SRS and B-SRS) scattered light and the emission of fast electrons are reported. Significant absorption occurs in these plasmas, which is found to increase with the laser intensity. B-SRS is strongly driven at 10[sup 17] W/cm² and gradually decreases at higher intensities. It is shown that the transmission is low and only weakly dependent on the laser intensity. In contrast, the forward Raman scattering continuously increases with the laser intensity, up to 7% of the incident energy at 2 × 10[sup 19] W/cm² in the lowest density case. The relativistic electrons accelerated in the forward direction appear to be correlated with the F-SRS. The experimental data are discussed in the light of recent theoretical and numerical investigations, indicating that intense electron heating is likely to play a major role in the temporal growth or inhibition of the instabilities. The theoretical predictions are in agreement with the experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a measurement of the Langmuir wave spectrum driven by stimulated Raman scattering using Thomson scattering. Comparison of the Langmuir waves' parallel and antiparallel to the incident's wave vector; Description of the relative amplitude of the two Langmuir waves.

Backward stimulated Raman and Brillouin scattering (SRS and SBS) are experimentally investigated by using two successive 1-µm, 1.5-ps FWHM laser pulses. The collinear pulses, separated by 3 or 6 ps and of moderate laser intensities (~2 × 1016Wcm-2), are fired into a preionized He plasma of density ~2.5-6 × 1019cm-3. The electron plasma waves and ion acoustic waves, respectively driven by SRS and SBS, are analyzed through space- and time-resolved Thomson scattering. Depending on the laser and plasma parameters, we observe the effect of the first pulse on the time-resolved SRS and SBS signals of the second pulse. The measurements are found to qualitatively agree with the results of a large-scale particle-in-cell simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collective Thomson scattering imaging has been used to study the propagation and self-focusing processes taking place during the interaction of a nanosecond laser beam with a preionized gas-jet plasma. The experiments have been carried out with a laser beam power P[sub L] exceeding greatly the critical power for ponderomotive self-focusing P[sub c]. It has been found that the position of the ion acoustic waves excited by stimulated Brillouin scattering depends only weakly on the initial focal position of the interaction laser beam. These results, together with theoretical and numerical modeling, demonstrate that in such a regime (P[sub L]/P[sub c]>1) self-focusing is the dominant mechanism governing the localization of the interaction processes. © 2000 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Letter investigates experimentally the backward stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) of two copropagating, 1-μm wavelength, 1.5-ps duration laser pulses focused side by side, but not simultaneously, in a preformed underdense plasma. When the two lasers do not interact, one of the pulses (so-called strong) yields a large SRS reflectivity, while the other weak pulse is essentially ineffective as regards SRS. By contrast, the weak pulse shows significant SRS activity if it is launched in the plasma slightly after the strong one, and for time delays as large as about 15 ps. For crossed polarizations and a lateral distance of 80-90 μm, the time delay has to be larger than 3-4 ps for the weak pulse to be active, while it has just to be positive when the polarizations are parallel. The experimental results are discussed with the help of large-scale particle-in-cell simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present experimental and numerical results on intense-laser-pulse-produced fast electron beams transport through aluminum samples, either solid or compressed and heated by laser-induced planar shock propagation. Thanks to absolute Kα yield measurements and its very good agreement with results from numerical simulations, we quantify the collisional and resistive fast electron stopping powers: for electron current densities of ≈ 8 × 1010 A/cm2 they reach 1.5 keV/μm and 0.8 keV/μm, respectively. For higher current densities up to 1012 A/cm2, numerical simulations show resistive and collisional energy losses at comparable levels. Analytical estimations predict the resistive stopping power will be kept on the level of 1 keV/μm for electron current densities of 1014 A/cm2, representative of the full-scale conditions in the fast ignition of inertially confined fusion targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Letter describes the first experimental demonstration of the guiding of a relativistic electron beam in a solid target using two colinear, relativistically intense, picosecond laser pulses. The first pulse creates a magnetic field that guides the higher-current, fast-electron beam generated by the second pulse. The effects of intensity ratio, delay, total energy, and intrinsic prepulse are examined. Thermal and Ka imaging show reduced emission size, increased peak emission, and increased total emission at delays of 4-6 ps, an intensity ratio of 10:1 (second:first) and a total energy of 186 J. In comparison to a single, high-contrast shot, the inferred fast-electron divergence is reduced by 2.7 times, while the fast-electron current density is increased by a factor of 1.8. The enhancements are reproduced with modeling and are shown to be due to the self-generation of magnetic fields. Such a scheme could be of considerable benefit to fast-ignition inertial fusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multimegabar laser-driven shock waves are unique tools for studying matter under extreme conditions. Accurate characterization of shocked matter is for instance necessary for measurements of equation of state data or opacities. This paper reports experiments performed at the LULI facility on the diagnosis of shock waves, using x-ray-absorption radiography. Radiographs are analyzed using standard Abel inversion. In addition, synthetic radiographs, which also take into account the finite size of the x-ray source, are generated using density maps produced by hydrodynamic simulations. Reported data refer to both plane cylindrical targets and hemispherical targets. Evolution and deformation of the shock front could be followed using hydrodynamic simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collimated transport of ultrahigh intensity electron current was observed in cold and in laser-shocked vitreous carbon, in agreement with simulation predictions. The fast electron beams were created by coupling high-intensity and high-contrast laser pulses onto copper-coated cones drilled into the carbon samples. The guiding mechanism--observed only for times before the shock breakout at the inner cone tip--is due to self-generated resistive magnetic fields of ~0.5-1 kT arising from the intense currents of fast electrons in vitreous carbon, by virtue of its specific high resistivity over the range of explored background temperatures. The spatial distribution of the electron beams, injected through the samples at different stages of compression, was characterized by side-on imaging of hard x-ray fluorescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Letter describes the first experimental demonstration of the guiding of a relativistic electron beam in a solid target using two colinear, relativistically intense, picosecond laser pulses. The first pulse creates a magnetic field that guides the higher-current, fast-electron beam generated by the second pulse. The effects of intensity ratio, delay, total energy, and intrinsic prepulse are examined. Thermal and Kα imaging show reduced emission size, increased peak emission, and increased total emission at delays of 4-6 ps, an intensity ratio of 10∶1 (second:first) and a total energy of 186 J. In comparison to a single, high-contrast shot, the inferred fast-electron divergence is reduced by 2.7 times, while the fast-electron current density is increased by a factor of 1.8. The enhancements are reproduced with modeling and are shown to be due to the self-generation of magnetic fields. Such a scheme could be of considerable benefit to fast-ignition inertial fusion.

Fast electrons produced by a 10 ps, 160 J laser pulse through laser-compressed plastic cylinders are studied experimentally and numerically in the context of fast ignition. K(α)-emission images reveal a collimated or scattered electron beam depending on the initial density and the compression timing. A numerical transport model shows that implosion-driven electrical resistivity gradients induce strong magnetic fields able to guide the electrons. The good agreement with measured beam sizes provides the first experimental evidence for fast-electron magnetic collimation in laser-compressed matter.

Thin, mass-limited targets composed of V/Cu/Al layers with diameters ranging from 50 to 300 microm have been isochorically heated by a 300 fs laser pulse delivering up to 10 J at 2x10{19} W/cm{2} irradiance. Detailed spectral analysis of the Cu x-ray emission indicates that the highest temperatures, of the order of 100 eV, have been reached when irradiating the smallest targets with a high-contrast, frequency-doubled pulse despite a reduced laser energy. Collisional particle-in-cell simulations confirm the detrimental influence of the preformed plasma on the bulk target heating.

We report on highly time- and space-resolved measurements of the evolution of electron plasma waves driven by stimulated Raman scattering of a picosecond, single laser speckle propagating through a preformed underdense plasma. Two-dimensional Thomson scatter spectra indicate that the dominant waves have significant transverse components. These results are supported by particle-in-cell simulations which pinpoint the dominant role of the wave front bowing and of secondary nonlinear electrostatic instabilities in the evolution of the plasma waves.

We report experiments demonstrating enhanced coupling efficiencies of high-contrast laser irradiation to nanofabricated conical targets. Peak temperatures near 200 eV are observed with modest laser energy (10 J), revealing similar hot-electron localization and material heating to reduced mass targets (RMTs), despite having a significantly larger mass. Collisional particle-in-cell simulations attribute the enhancement to self-generated resistive (approximately 10 MG) magnetic fields forming within the curvature of the cone wall, which confine energetic electrons to heat a reduced volume at the tip. This represents a different electron confinement mechanism (magnetic, as opposed to electrostatic sheath confinement in RMTs) controllable by target shape.

The excitation and the relaxation of the plasma waves and ion acoustic waves (IAW), respectively, driven by stimulated Raman (SRS) and Brillouin (SBS) backscatterings have been experimentally investigated with short-pulse lasers. The spectra have been obtained with a 0.3 ps time resolution. It is shown that SRS develops before SBS and suddenly decays around the peak of the pump, as the IAW reaches saturation. On this short time scale, electron kinetic effects play a major role for SRS saturation, contrary to ion dynamics. These results are supported by particle-in-cell simulations.

We present experimental results on fast-electron energy deposition into solid targets in ultrahigh intensity laser-matter interaction. X-ray K alpha emission spectroscopy with absolute photon counting served to diagnose fast-electron propagation in multilayered targets. Target heating was measured from ionization-shifted K alpha emission. Data show a 200 microm fast-electron range in solid Al. The relative intensities of spectrally shifted Al K alpha lines imply a mean temperature of a few tens of eV up to a 100 microm depth. Experimental results suggest refluxing of the electron beam at target rear side. They were compared with the predictions of both a collisional Monte Carlo and a collisional-electromagnetic, particle-fluid transport code. The validity of the code modeling of heating in such highly transient conditions is discussed.

We study the propagation of fast electrons in a gas at different densities. A large relativistic electron current is produced by focusing a short-pulse ultrahigh-intensity laser on a metallic target. It then propagates in a gas jet placed behind the foil. Shadowgraphy in the gas shows an electron cloud moving at sub-relativistic average velocities. The experiment shows (i) the essential role of the density of background material for allowing propagation of fast electrons, (ii) the importance of the ionization phase which produces free electrons available for the return current, and (iii) the effect of electrostatic fields on fast-electron propagation.

We report one of the first measurements of induced heating due to the transport of a fast electron beam generated by an ultrashort pulse laser interaction with solid targets. Rear-side optical reflectivity and emissivity have been used as diagnostics for the size and temperature of the heated zone. A narrow spot has been observed of the order of the laser focus size. Values up to approximately 10 eV at the target back surface were inferred from the experimental data and compared with the predictions of a hybrid collisional-electromagnetic transport simulation.

Electron transport within solid targets, irradiated by a high-intensity short-pulse laser, has been measured by imaging K(alpha) radiation from high- Z layers (Cu, Ti) buried in low- Z (CH, Al) foils. Although the laser spot is approximately 10 microm [full width at half maximum (FWHM)], the electron beam spreads to > or =70 microm FWHM within <20 microm of penetration into an Al target then, at depths >100 microm, diverges with a 40 degree spreading angle. Monte Carlo and analytic models are compared to our data. We find that a Monte Carlo model with a heuristic model for the electron injection gives a reasonable fit with our data.