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We review the fundamentals of electron beam generation in self-modulated laser wakefield acceleration (SM-LWFA) using laser pulses with peak powers on the TW and sub-TW scale. The results of several new particle-in-cell simulations for λ = 0.8 µm and a thin H2 gas target are shown. By scanning the peak gas density and peak power values of the incident laser, we discuss the resulting acceleration processes, as well as the characteristics of the electron beams generated for different conditions. Our approach provides a method to optimize these beams with lasers operating at kHz repetition rates.

Electron beams generated by laser wakefield acceleration can induce a photoneutron reaction to convert 100Mo into 99Mo. Multi-pC, several-MeV electron beams, obtained from particle-in-cell simulations, could generate bremsstrahlung gamma photons within the absorption region of the photonuclear reaction. The efficiency of this process is estimated for a laser accelerator operating at kHz repetition rate in the self-modulated regime. The electron beam kinetic energy must be improved to 40MeV. To meet the typical consumption of 99Mo per patient within its decay timescale, this efficiency must be increased by three orders of magnitude.

This work reports the development of a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer aimed at determining the density of gas targets and laser generated plasmas, in time and space. This interferometer will compose our laboratory implementations for laser wakefield acceleration, allowing the characterizations of gas jet profiles generated by submillimeter nozzles. The technique also allows us to estimate the temporal evolution of the plasma density.

Ultrashort laser pulses interact with matter in unique, nonselective ways, due to electronic direct excitation in an ultrafast time scale. Additionally, these pulses can cover peak powers from kW to PW, allowing its use to induce from nonlinear optics up to relativistic phenomena. Here we present a quick overview of the important processes induced in matter by high-intensity ultrashort pulses, and describe results obtained in our laboratory, including our most recent goal of accelerating electrons with ultrashort pulses for practical applications.

An analytical formulation of a multi-kilowatt ytterbium-doped double-cladding tandem-pumped fiber amplifier was developed and is reported in this paper. The model consists of a system including the laser rate, pumping and seed power equations. The model was validated by describing a fiber amplifier behavior with a 5.986kW, 1018nm pumping and a signal seed of 75W, 1080nm, yielding a maximum power output of 5.448kW, with an efficiency of 91.1%. The thermal equations are solved for the temperature distribution along the fiber with a maximum temperature of 43.24°C, when the convective coefficient of 4000W. m-2. K−1 is used.

This work reports the development and experimental implementation of a methodology for manufacturing submillimetric de Laval nozzles by ultrashort laser pulses micromachining by trepanning. The use of a ceramic substrate resulted in the fabrication of nozzles with high circularity and low roughness, which should generate high-quality gas targets for accelerating electrons with ultrashort laser pulses.

An analytical formulation and modeling of an optical fiber Bragg gratings has been developed and is reported in this paper. Supported by the coupled-mode theory and considering that the mode fields of the unperturbed waveguide remain unchanged in the presence of weak perturbations, it is possible to obtain first-order differential equations that have solutions for some types of periodic perturbations. Finally, the model is applied to analyze the influence of structural parameters of fiber gratings, such as length, period and refractive index modulation on its reflectivity and bandwidth.

This work reports a theoretical and experimental study of supersonic gas jets to be used as targets in laser wakefield acceleration. A comparison between theoretical and experimental results ismade in order to estimate the results of a de Laval nozzle manufactured in our laboratory, used to produce a N 2 gas target. The comparison between the results shows that Computational Fluid Dynamicssimulations are able todescribe the phenomena of the supersonic gas jet.

An analytical investigation of the refractive index behavior of an ytterbium-doped optical fiber silica glass as a function of the core-clad temperature, upper-level population laser density, and pumping signal intensity is presented in this paper. For the substantiation of the investigation, three fundamental expressions were used, which describe the changes in the refractive index due to these physical phenomena in the laser medium. The model was evaluated considering a 500 W steady state fiber laser, operating in a two-end pumped configuration.

We evaluate the results of self-modulated, laser wakefield acceleration of electrons in homogeneous, 150-μm-thick hydrogen gas target, simulated using the spectral particle-in-cell algorithm FBPIC. Considering a single 2-TW laser pulse at 800-nm, which generates ionization and plasma displacement at relativistic intensities, we discuss the resultant wakefield phases, wave-breaking, and the ejected electron bunch properties: charge, length, divergence and energy, also comparing with experimental results.

This work reports the generation of Below Threshold Harmonics generated in Argon by ultrashort laser pulses. The 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th harmonics of the laser were generated in the UV and VUV regions, and the frequency conversion occurred in flowing gas in a glass nozzle into a vacuum chamber. The harmonics generated show a blue-shift and an efficiency that depend on the laser pulses intensity and also on the gas pressure. These parameters determine the phase-matching condition, which governs the energy conversion from the laser into the harmonics, and this study shows that is possible to tune the harmonics intensity and wavelength, providing a versatile light source.

Laser particle acceleration is now in a new trend due to an enormous worldwide effort to increase the peak power of femtosecond lasers, as well as increasing their average power in order to make them useful for applications. The leading example is the Extreme Light Infrastructure in Europe, which has led to the establishment of three large research facilities in the Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary that host some of the most powerful lasers worldwide (above PW peak power). This action is now being followed by the USA LaserNetUS initiative, that comprises all the big laser facilities in US, and similar efforts also happen in Asia. We are starting a program to establish a laser accelerator facility in Brazil, aiming to produce radiation (electrons, protons and X rays) to be used in medical applications, like X ray and electron therapy, nuclear reactions and, eventually, protontherapy.

This study was done to evaluate whether the irradiation of dentine with ultrashort laser pulses prior to adhesive procedures contributes to increase the adhesive resistance to microtraction essays. Twenty-four human teeth (third molars) were used, divided into 4 groups (n=6): standard adhesive procedures with etch-rinse adhesive were used in the control group, and in the experimental groups, the dentin was irradiated by 25 fs pulses prior to the adhesive procedures, with varying fluences. One tooth from each group was used to evaluate its surface roughness. After 24h, the teeth were sectioned with perpendicular cuts, producing toothpicks that were submitted to the microtraction test. The results showed that the groups irradiated with fluences under 4 J/cm² presented similar results among themselves, comparable to the control group, while the group irradiated with 8 J/cm² showed lower adhesive strength. We propose that the adhesive strength and surface roughness reduction resulting from the fluence increase is probably related to the shielding arising from an electron plasma formation during the ablation, decreasing the material removal efficiency. Nevertheless, the lower energy densities did not affect the adhesiveness, maintaining values similar to the control.

The ablation threshold for ultrashort pulses of common optical materials (BK7 glass, Sapphire and Fused Silica), was measured using the D-Scan technique, for positive and negative dispersions covering pulse durations from 30 fs to 100 fs. We observed that the ablation threshold for a single shot and at saturation increase with the pulse duration and the material bandgap, and also that defects which decrease the threshold values accumulate faster as the material bandgap increases.

In this work, the non-linear refractive index (n 2 ) of silicon oxynitride (SiO x N y ) is determined, obtaining a value for this material of n 2 = 2.11×10-19 m2/W. The results demonstrate that this material has interesting properties for the development of non-linear optical devices. The paper presents in detail the waveguide fabrication process using the pedestal technique, which allows using different materials since it does not require etching to define the sidewalls of the waveguides. We show the results of the measurement of the n2 employing the non-linear optical phenomena of Self-Phase Modulation (SPM).

Laser particle acceleration is a rapid growing field due to the compactness and smaller cost when compared to traditional accelerators, as well as the potential for new applications resulting from the unique characteristics of the beams generated. Frequently, laser acceleration techniques require laser intensities higher than 100’s of PW/cm2 and high-density gas targets, with specific profiles. In the effort to implement laser electron acceleration in our laboratories, we report the development of submillimetric, supersonic gas nozzles, the implementation of optical techniques for the determination of the gas jets density profiles, and the characterization of laser-induced plasmas obtained at laser intensities surpassing 1016 W/cm2. The characterization techniques employed include plasma spectroscopy, interferograms and Schlieren images.

This work reports studies on the generation of below threshold harmonics by ultrashort laser pulses in gas nozzles in vacuum. Odd harmonics of the laser, ranging from the 3rd up to the 9th, were generated in the UV and VUV regions, and the frequency conversion occurred in flowing gas. The harmonics were spectrally characterized, and the orders of the nonlinear processes were determined, showing that, for the higher order harmonics, competing processes decrease the energy coupling into the new frequencies. Also, the conversion efficiencies were estimated, showing that a few percent of the laser pulse energy are converted into the harmonics.

Lithium fluoride and potassium chloride single crystals were irradiated with high-intensity ultrashort laser pulses at room temperature. Color centers were successfully produced in both materials and their optical properties were studied. The mechanism of point defects production is analyzed and a phenomenological model is formulated.