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Strong-field physics with mid-infrared lasers.
- Source :
- AIP Conference Proceedings; 2002, Vol. 611 Issue 1, p397, 12p, 6 Diagrams, 8 Graphs
- Publication Year :
- 2002
-
Abstract
- Mid-infrared gas laser technology promises to become a unique tool for research in strong-field relativistic physics. The degree to which physics is relativistic is determined by a ponderomotive potential. At a given intensity, a 10 μm wavelength CO[sub 2] laser reaches a 100 times higher ponderomotive potential than the 1 μm wavelength solid state lasers. Thus, we can expect a proportional increase in the throughput of such processes as laser acceleration, x-ray production, etc. These arguments have been confirmed in proof-of-principle Thomson scattering and laser acceleration experiments conducted at BNL and UCLA where the first terawatt-class CO[sub 2] lasers are in operation. Further more, proposals for the 100 TW, 100 fs CO[sub 2] lasers based on frequency-chirped pulse amplification have been conceived. Such lasers can produce physical effects equivalent to a hypothetical multi-petawatt solid state laser. Ultra-fast mid-infrared lasers will open new routes to the next generation electron and ion accelerators, ultra-bright monochromatic femtosecond x-ray and gamma sources, allow to attempt the study of Hawking-Unruh radiation, and explore relativistic aspects of laser-matter interactions. We review the present status and experiments with terawatt-class CO[sub 2] lasers, sub-petawatt projects, and prospective applications in strong-field science. © 2002 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0094243X
- Volume :
- 611
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- AIP Conference Proceedings
- Publication Type :
- Conference
- Accession number :
- 6435821