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In this Letter, we report the possibility of generating intense, highly energetic proton beams using terawatt, sub-nanosecond class laser system by irradiating modified cavity pressure acceleration-type targets. In this approach, the main source of few-mega electron volt protons is thermonuclear deuterium–deuterium reaction; therefore, the energy spectrum of accelerated particles and their number is not as strongly related to the laser intensity (laser pulse energy and pulse duration in particular) as in the case of the most common ion acceleration mechanism, namely, target normal sheath acceleration. Performed Monte Carlo simulations suggest that using mentioned mechanism to generate proton beam might be beneficial and efficient driver for laser induced proton–boron fusion when moderate-to-low laser pulse intensities ( ⩽ 10 16 W / cm 2 ) and thin, lower than 100 μ m boron foils are used as catchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidimensional modeling of phenomena and processes occurring during the expansion of the laser-produced plasma for different irradiation conditions related to both the laser beam parameters and the target constructions is a very complex issue, especially when modeling requires consideration of kinetic processes associated with the development of various types of microscopic instability. Multidimensional PIC codes create such a possibility, but their use is limited to modeling phenomena even in a very narrow timescale due to the limited computational capabilities of current supercomputers. For this reason, the paper attempts to interpret the results of the spontaneous magnetic field (SMF) measurements obtained during the PALS (Prague Asterix Laser System) experiment [Pisarczyk et al., AIP Adv. 10, 115201 (2020); Pisarczyk et al., Phys. Plasmas 22, 102706 (2015)] based on the 2D magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) model [Jach et al., Computer Modeling of Dynamic Interaction of Bodies by Free Point Method (PWN, Warsaw, 2011)]. The MHD equations were used with included arbitrary (i) current of hot electrons treating it as an additional external current and (ii) ion-sound instability responsible for the increase in anomalous resistance in areas with high temperature and low-density plasma. The spatial distribution of magnetic fields and current density obtained from 2D modeling are in acceptable agreement with the experimental results [Pisarczyk et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 62, 115020 (2020); Zaraś-Szydłowska et al., AIP Adv. 10, 115201 (2020); Pisarczyk et al., Phys. Plasmas 22, 102706 (2015)]. The inclusion of temporal changes in anomalous resistance in modeling allowed us to explain the persistence of high SMF amplitude at the level of several megagauss after the laser pulse ended due to the effect of magnetic field freezing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generation of spontaneous magnetic fields (SMFs) is one of the most interesting phenomena accompanying an intense laser–matter interaction. One method of credible SMFs measurements is based on the magneto-optical Faraday effect, which requires simultaneous measurements of an angle of polarization plane rotation of a probe wave and plasma electron density. In classical polaro-interferometry, these values are provided independently by polarimetric and interferometric images. Complex interferometry is an innovative approach in SMF measurement, obtaining information on SMF directly from a phase–amplitude analysis of an image called a complex interferogram. Although the theoretical basis of complex interferometry has been well known for many years, this approach has not been effectively employed in laser plasma research until recently; this approach has been successfully implemented in SMF measurement at the Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS). In this paper, proprietary construction solutions of polaro-interferometers are presented; they allow us to register high-quality complex interferograms in practical experiments, which undergo quantitative analysis (with an original software) to obtain information on the electron density and SMFs distributions in an examined plasma. The theoretical foundations of polaro-interferometric measurement, in particular, complex-interferometry, are presented. The main part of the paper details the methodology of the amplitude–phase analysis of complex interferograms. This includes software testing and examples of the electron density and SMF distribution of a laser ablative plasma generated by irradiating Cu thick planar targets with an iodine PALS laser at an intensity above about 1016 W/cm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The laser-induced Cavity Pressure Acceleration (CPA) scheme [S. Borodziuk et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 231501 (2009)] allows for effective transformation of the laser energy into the kinetic energy of plasma streams and dense plasma objects. It has been proven that using long-wavelength laser beams, with relatively low energies (up to 500 J for λ1 = 1.315 µm and FWHM = 350 ps), it is possible to accelerate macroparticles to very high velocities (above 107 cm/s). The study of neutron yield showed the benefit of CPA in delivering ion temperatures and density sufficient to reach the thermonuclear region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides a summary of recent research connected with the shock ignition (SI) concept of the inertial confinement fusion which was carried out at PALS. In the experiments, Cu planar targets coated with a thin CH layer were used. Two-beam irradiation experiment was applied to investigate the effect of preliminary produced plasma to shock-wave generation. The 1ω or 3ω main beam with a high intensity >1015 W/cm2 generates shock wave, while the other 1ω beam with the intensity below 1014 W/cm2 creates CH pre-plasma simulating the pre-compressed plasma related to SI. Influence of laser wavelength on absorbed energy transfer to shock wave was studied by means of femtosecond interferometry and measuring the crater volume. To characterize the hot electron and ion emission, two-dimensional (2D) Kα-imaging of Cu plasma and grid collector measurements were used. In single 1ω beam experiments energy transport by fast electrons produced by resonant absorption made a significant contribution to shock-wave pressure. However, two-beam experiments with 1ω main beam show that the pre-plasma is strongly degrading the scalelength which leads to decreasing the fast electron energy contribution to shock pressure. In both the single 3ω beam experiments and the two-beam experiments with the 3ω main beam, do not show any clear influence of fast electron transport on shock-wave pressure. The non-monotonic behavior of the scalelength at changing the laser beam focal radius in both presence and absence of pre-plasma reflects the competition of plasma motion and electron heat conduction under the conditions of one-dimensional and 2D plasma expansion at large and small focal radii, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first space-time resolved spontaneous magnetic field (SMF) measurements realized on Prague Asterix Laser System are presented. The SMF was generated as a result of single laser beam (1.315 lm) interaction with massive planar targets made of materials with various atomic numbers (plastic and Cu). Measured SMF confirmed azimuthal geometry and their maximum amplitude reached the value of 10 MG at the laser energy of 250 J for both target materials. It was demonstrated that spatial distributions of these fields are associated with the character of the ablative plasma expansion which clearly depends on the target material. To measure the SMF, the Faraday effect was employed causing rotation of the vector of polarization of the linearly polarized diagnostic beam. The rotation angle was determined together with the phase shift using a novel design of a two-channel polaro-interferometer. To obtain sufficiently high temporal resolution, the polarointerferometer was irradiated by Ti:Sa laser pulse with the wavelength of 808 nm and the pulse duration of 40 fs. The results of measurements were compared with theoretical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficiency of the laser radiation energy transport into the shock wave generated in layered planar targets (consisting of massive Cu over coated by thin CH layer) was investigated. The targets were irradiated using two laser pulses. The 1ω pulse with the energy of ~50 J produced a pre-plasma, imitating the corona of the pre-compressed inertial confinement fusion target. The second main pulse used the 1ω or 3ω laser harmonics with the energy of ~200 J. The influence of the preplasma on parameters of the shock wave was determined from the crater volume measurements and from the electron density distribution measured by 3-frame interferometry. The experimental results show that the energy transport by fast electrons provides a definite contribution to the dynamics of the ablative process, to the shock wave generation, and to the ablation pressure in dependence on the target irradiation conditions. The strong influence of the pre-plasma on the investigated process was observed in the 1ω case. Theoretical analysis supports the explanation of experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceleration of dense matter to high velocities is of high importance for high energy density physics, inertial confinement fusion, or space research. The acceleration schemes employed so far are capable of accelerating dense microprojectiles to velocities approaching 1000 km/s; however, the energetic efficiency of acceleration is low. Here, we propose and demonstrate a highly efficient scheme of acceleration of dense matter in which a projectile placed in a cavity is irradiated by a laser beam introduced into the cavity through a hole and then accelerated in a guiding channel by the pressure of a hot plasma produced in the cavity by the laser beam or by the photon pressure of the ultra-intense laser radiation trapped in the cavity. We show that the acceleration efficiency in this scheme can be much higher than that achieved so far and that sub-relativisitic projectile velocities are feasible in the radiation pressure regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of investigations are presented that are connected with a very simple method of plasma jet formation, which consists in irradiating a massive planar target made of material with relatively high atomic number by a partly defocused laser beam. This brief communication is aimed at investigations of interaction of axially symmetrical light (plastic-CH) plasma with heavy (copper) plasma. It demonstrates that a relatively thin plastic plasma envelope can compress the Cu plasma and control the Cu-jet formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our earlier papers demonstrate a very simple method of plasma jet formation, consisting in irradiating a massive planar target of a relatively high atomic number by a partly defocused laser beam. Our present interest is concentrated on interaction of the plasma jet with other media. This paper is aimed at investigations of interaction of two jets launched successively on Cu target. Our attention was paid to the role of radiative cooling in the plasma jet formation. The experiment was carried out at the PALS iodine laser facility. The laser provided a 250-ps (full width at half maximum) pulse with energy of 130 J at the third harmonic frequency (γ3 = 0.438 μm). Two successive jets were produced on a massive flat Cu target provided with a cylindrical channel 5 mm long and 400 μm in diameter. Since the focal spot diameter of the laser beam on the target surface was larger than that of the channel (800 μm), the annular irradiation of the target face resulted in creation of the first plasma jet, whereas the second jet was produced by action of the central part of laser beam on the channel wall. Three-frame interferometric system, X-ray streak camera, and a set of ion collectors were used as diagnostic tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent experimental results demonstrate that the forming of plasma jets is a fundamental process accompanying the laser-produced plasma expansion, if a massive planar target with relatively high atomic number is irradiated by a defocused laser beam. In this paper some new results on the influence of target irradiation conditions on plasma jet parameters are presented. The experiment was carried out at the Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS) iodine laser [K. Jungwirth, A. Cejnarova, L. Juha, B. Kralikova, J. Krasa, E. Krousky, P. Krupickova, L. Laska, K. Masek, A. Prag, O. Renner, K. Rohlena, B. Rus, J. Skala, P. Straka, and J. Ullschmied, Phys. Plasmas 8, 2495 (2001)]. with the third harmonic beam of the pulse duration of 250 ps. The beam energies varied in the range of 13–160 J. The planar massive targets used in the experiment were made of copper. For measurements of the electron density evolution a three frame interferometric system was employed. The jets were produced in the whole range of the laser energy used. Calculations of the efficiency of the plasma jet production show that it decreases with increasing the laser energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under suitable conditions on laser intensity, focal spot radius and atomic number a radiative jet was launched from a planar target. This jet was produced using a relatively low energy laser pulse, below 500 J and it presents similarities with astrophysical protostellar jets. It lasts more than 10 ns, extends over several millimeters, has velocity more than 500 km/s, the Mach number more than 10 and the density above 1018 cm−3. The mechanism of jet formation was inferred from the dimensional analysis and hydrodynamic two-dimensional simulations. It is related to the radiative cooling while the magnetic fields play a minor role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laser experiment on a plasma jet formation and its multidimensional numerical analysis are presented. Under suitable conditions on the laser intensity, focal spot radius, and target atomic number a radiative jet could be launched from a simple planar target. The jet lasts more than 10 ns and extends over several millimeters. It has a velocity of around 500 km/s, a Mach number greater than 10, and a density above 1018 cm-3. It is concluded from the dimensional analysis of the experiment and from numerical simulations that the x-ray emission has a dominant effect on the jet formation and collimation. The similarity criteria for scaling of the laser experiment to larger systems are verified. Using a relatively low-energy laser pulse, below 500 J, one can produce a laboratory jet that presents similarities with astrophysical objects such as protostellar jets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of investigations are presented that are connected with defocused laser beam–planar target interaction. Following the very large focus laser-plasma interaction experiments on the Nova [H. T. Powell, J. A. Caird, J. E. Murray, and C. E. Thompson, 1991 ICF Annual Report UCRL-LR-105820-91, p. 163 (1991)] and GEKKO-XII [C. Yamanaka, Y. Kato, Y. Izawa, K. Yoshida, T. Yamanaka, T. Sasaki, T. Nakatsuka, J. Kuroda, and S. Nakai, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-17, 1639 (1981)] lasers, as well as on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser [W. J. Hogan, E. I. Moses, B. E. Warner, M. S. Sorem, and J. M. Soures, Nucl. Fusion 41, 567 (2001)] with generation of high Mach number jets, this paper is devoted to similar jet generation with very detailed measurements of density profiles by using high-power lasers at large focus conditions. The experiment was carried out with target materials of different mass densities (Al, Cu, Ag, Ta, and Pb) using the Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS) iodine laser [K. Jungwirth, A. Cejnarova, L. Juha, B. Kralikowa, J. Krasa, E. Krousky, P. Krupickova, L. Laska, K. Masek, A. Prag, O. Renner, K. Rohlena, B. Rus, J. Skala, P. Straka, and J. Ullschmied, Phys. Plasmas 8, 2495 (2001)]. The investigations were conducted for the laser radiation energy of 100 J at two wavelengths of 1.315 and 0.438 μm (the first and third harmonics of laser radiation), pulse duration of 0.4 ns, and a focal spot radius of 300 μm. Most of the experimental data were obtained by means of a three-frame laser interferometer and an x-ray streak camera; the crater parameters were obtained by using the crater replica technique. These investigations have shown that stable dense plasma jets can be produced in a simple configuration of laser beam–planar target interaction, provided that a proper target material is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crater formation process is studied in the "laser - Al solid target" interactions on the PALS (Prague Asterix Laser System) iodine laser facility. A great variety of laser beam parameters are used to irradiate massive aluminum targets. Large laser energies available (up to 600 J) open a possibility to investigate the process of crater formation for physical conditions different from the earlier studies for the lower laser energies. Comparison with the earlier results is presented. A simple theory LSM (laser simulation method) has been applied for the analysis of the experimental results. This model leads to a universal relation (scaling law) for the crater relative volume. Our work expands the study of crater formation to the "virtual" macroparticle velocities exceeding 100 km/s. The scaling law is derived here for this previously unexplored region. An alternative method of studying crater formation is also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we present our new results obtained during the experiment performed on Prague Asterix Laser System. We used cavity pressure acceleration method [Borodziuk et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 231501 (2009)] to obtain superfast macroparticles. Two different ways of macroparticle acceleration were investigated: 'forward' and 'backward' acceleration. The best results for the velocity (obtained for 20 μm polystyrene foil) approach 1.0 × 108 cm/s. Also, the hydrodynamic efficiency of the energy transfer to the accelerated macroparticle is much higher compared to conventional ablative experiments. Additionally, application of the 'covered channel' targets gives an evident increase of density of accelerated plasma outbursting from the channel, which is a key problem from the point of view of possible applications in impact fast ignition area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient scheme of acceleration and collimation of dense plasma is proposed and examined. In the scheme, a target placed in a cavity coupled with a guiding channel is irradiated by a laser beam introduced into the cavity through a hole and accelerated along the channel by the pressure of the ablating plasma confined in the cavity. Using 1.315 μm, 0.3 ns laser pulse of energy up to 200 J and a thin CH target, it was shown that the energetic efficiency of acceleration in this scheme is an order of magnitude higher than in the case of conventional ablative acceleration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose an efficient method of accelerating macroparticles to high velocities, which employs pressure of the plasma produced by a focused pulsed high-power laser beam inside a cavity-type target. That is why we have called it the cavity pressure acceleration (CPA) scheme. The method was tested during our experiments at the Prague Asterix Laser System, the results of which are reported here. They show that CPA makes it possible to accelerate both light and heavy macroparticles in arbitrary direction, with the acceleration efficiency far exceeding that achieved upto now by using the classic ablative acceleration scheme. High velocities of the macroparticles (foil fragments) produced and possibility of accelerating even rather heavy macroparticles are promising from the point of view of impact fusion studies, of the impact fast ignition, in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alternative concept for accelerating thin foils to high velocity has been proposed and tested. The thin (10 μm) Al foil has been accelerated by the ablative plasma generated by means of the third harmonic (λ=0.438 μm, τ=250 ps) of the iodine laser pulse of the energies of 75 and 190 J irradiating a massive Cu target. Two separation distances of the foil from the massive target of 100 and 500 μm were used. It has been shown that this method of an indirect, two-step acceleration, named as the reversed acceleration scheme, can be more effective than the classic, direct-drive approach. The Al flyer foil has reached a velocity of ∼1.3×107 cm/s, i.e., significantly higher than that in the comparable “classic” ablative acceleration experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of investigations are presented that are connected with defocused laser beam–planar target interaction. Following the very large focus laser-plasma interaction experiments on the Nova [H. T. Powell, J. A. Caird, J. E. Murray, and C. E. Thompson, 1991 ICF Annual Report UCRL-LR-105820-91, p. 163 (1991)] and GEKKO-XII [C. Yamanaka, Y. Kato, Y. Izawa, K. Yoshida, T. Yamanaka, T. Sasaki, T. Nakatsuka, J. Kuroda, and S. Nakai, IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-17, 1639 (1981)] lasers, as well as on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) laser [W. J. Hogan, E. I. Moses, B. E. Warner, M. S. Sorem, and J. M. Soures, Nucl. Fusion 41, 567 (2001)] with generation of high Mach number jets, this paper is devoted to similar jet generation with very detailed measurements of density profiles by using high-power lasers at large focus conditions. The experiment was carried out with target materials of different mass densities (Al, Cu, Ag, Ta, and Pb) using the Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS) iodine laser [K. Jungwirth, A. Cejnarova, L. Juha, B. Kralikowa, J. Krasa, E. Krousky, P. Krupickova, L. Laska, K. Masek, A. Prag, O. Renner, K. Rohlena, B. Rus, J. Skala, P. Straka, and J. Ullschmied, Phys. Plasmas 8, 2495 (2001)]. The investigations were conducted for the laser radiation energy of 100 J at two wavelengths of 1.315 and 0.438 μm (the first and third harmonics of laser radiation), pulse duration of 0.4 ns, and a focal spot radius of 300 μm. Most of the experimental data were obtained by means of a three-frame laser interferometer and an x-ray streak camera; the crater parameters were obtained by using the crater replica technique. These investigations have shown that stable dense plasma jets can be produced in a simple configuration of laser beam–planar target interaction, provided that a proper target material is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multidimensional modeling of phenomena and processes occurring during the expansion of the laser-produced plasma for different irradiation conditions related to both the laser beam parameters and the target constructions is a very complex issue, especially when modeling requires consideration of kinetic processes associated with the development of various types of microscopic instability. Multidimensional PIC codes create such a possibility, but their use is limited to modeling phenomena even in a very narrow timescale due to the limited computational capabilities of current supercomputers. For this reason, the paper attempts to interpret the results of the spontaneous magnetic field (SMF) measurements obtained during the PALS (Prague Asterix Laser System) experiment [Pisarczyk et al., AIP Adv. 10, 115201 (2020); Pisarczyk et al., Phys. Plasmas 22, 102706 (2015)] based on the 2D magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) model [Jach et al., Computer Modeling of Dynamic Interaction of Bodies by Free Point Method (PWN, Warsaw, 2011)]. The MHD equations were used with included arbitrary (i) current of hot electrons treating it as an additional external current and (ii) ion-sound instability responsible for the increase in anomalous resistance in areas with high temperature and low-density plasma. The spatial distribution of magnetic fields and current density obtained from 2D modeling are in acceptable agreement with the experimental results [Pisarczyk et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 62, 115020 (2020); Zaraś-Szydłowska et al., AIP Adv. 10, 115201 (2020); Pisarczyk et al., Phys. Plasmas 22, 102706 (2015)]. The inclusion of temporal changes in anomalous resistance in modeling allowed us to explain the persistence of high SMF amplitude at the level of several megagauss after the laser pulse ended due to the effect of magnetic field freezing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]