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A time and polarization resolved reflective interferometry measurement on femtosecond laser heated gold is presented. We deduced the electron momentum damping frequency, the conduction electron density, and finally the electron temperature in the 0.6-5 eV range in out of equilibrium, solid density warm dense gold. This allows the experimental determination of the electron-electron collision frequency variation with the electron temperature in warm dense matter conditions. The comparison with several models shows the importance of properly taking into account the d-band electrons in noble metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have probed, with time-resolved x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES), a femtosecond-laser-heated aluminum foil with fluences up to 1 J/cm². The spectra reveal a loss of the short-range order in a few picoseconds. This time scale is compared with the electron-ion equilibration time, calculated with a two-temperature model. Hydrodynamic simulations shed light on complex features that affect the foil dynamics, including progressive density change from solid to liquid (∼ 10 ps). In this density range, quantum molecular dynamics simulations indicate that XANES is a relevant probe of the ionic temperature. [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]

X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) is a powerful probe of electronic and atomic structures in various media, ranging from molecules to condensed matter. We show how ultrafast time resolution opens new possibilities to investigate highly nonequilibrium states of matter including phase transitions. Based on a tabletop laser-plasma ultrafast x-ray source, we have performed a time-resolved (~ 3 ps) XANES experiment that reveals the evolution of an aluminum foil at the atomic level, when undergoing ultrafast laser heating and ablation. X-ray absorption spectra highlight an ultrafast transition from the crystalline solid to the disordered liquid followed by a progressive transition of the delocalized valence electronic structure (metal) down to localized atomic orbitals (nonmetal--vapor), as the average distance between atoms increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. Kα-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. [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]

The time evolution of the electron structure is investigated in a molybdenum foil heated up to the warm dense matter regime by a femtosecond laser pulse, through time-resolved x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy. Spectra are measured with independent characterizations of temperature and density. They are successfully compared with ab initio quantum molecular dynamic calculations. We demonstrate that the observed white line in the L3 edge reveals the time evolution of the electron density of state from the solid to the hot (a few eV) and expanding liquid. The data indicate a highly nonequilibrated state, 5 ps after heating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking advantage of the new opportunities provided by x-ray free electron laser (FEL) sources when coupled to a long laser pulse as available at the Linear Coherent Light Source (LCLS), we have performed x-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopy (XANES) of laser shock compressed iron up to 420 GPa (±50) and 10 800 K (±1390). Visible diagnostics coupled with hydrodynamic simulations were used to infer the thermodynamical conditions along the Hugoniot and the release adiabat. A modification of the pre-edge feature at 7.12 keV in the XANES spectra is observed above pressures of 260 GPa along the Hugoniot. Comparing with ab initio calculations and with previous laser-heated diamond cell data, we propose that such changes in the XANES pre-edge could be a signature of molten iron. This interpretation then suggests that iron is molten at pressures and temperatures higher than 260 GPa (±29) and 5680 K (±700) along the principal Fe Hugoniot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anisotropy of the hot-electron velocity distribution in ultra-high-intensity laser produced plasma was studied with x-ray polarization spectroscopy using multilayer planar targets including x-ray emission tracer in the middle layer. This measurement serves as a diagnostic for hot-electron transport from the laser-plasma interaction region to the overdense region where drastic changes in the isotropy of the electron velocity distribution are observed. These polarization degrees are consistent with analysis of a three-dimensional polarization spectroscopy model coupled with particle-in-cell simulations. Electron velocity distribution in the underdense region is affected by the electric field of the laser and that in the overdense region becomes wider with increase in the tracer depth. A full-angular spread in the overdense region of 22.4 degrees -2.4+5.4 was obtained from the measured polarization degree.

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.

We present the first experimental evidence of the subpicosecond duration of x-ray pulses emitted from laser-irradiated clusters, demonstrating the suitability of such a debris free target for ultrafast x-ray science applications. The K-shell emission (approximately 3 keV) from large Ar clusters (6 x 10(5) to 4 x 10(6) atoms) is time resolved, when irradiated by ultrashort (40 fs to 5 ps) and intense laser pulses (10(15-17) W/cm2). The observations are supported by hydrodynamical and collisional-radiative calculations, that reproduce the extremely short x-ray pulse duration.

Correct modeling of the electron-energy transport is essential for inertial confinement fusion target design. Various transport models have been proposed in order to extend the validity of a hydrodynamical description into weakly collisional regimes, taking into account the nonlocality of the electron transport combined with the effects of self-generated magnetic fields. We have carried out new experiments designed to be highly sensitive to the modeling of the heat flow on the Ligne d'Intégration Laser facility, the prototype of the Laser Megajoule. We show that two-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations correctly reproduce the experimental results only if they include both the nonlocal transport and magnetic fields.

Joint European Torus discharges which demonstrate the critical role the safety factor profile, q, can play in the formation of internal transport barriers (ITB) are examined. In these discharges, the target parameters, including the E x B flows, were kept virtually the same, except for the q profile. In a discharge with a nonmonotonic q, an ITB was triggered whereas a discharge with monotone q made no such transition. Thus, there is strong evidence that the q profile was the critical factor for the triggering of an ITB. Possible interpretations of this finding are discussed.