Laser Heating of Solid Matter by Light-Pressure-Driven Shocks at Ultrarelativistic Intensities

Akli, K. U.; Hansen, Stephanie B.; Kemp, Andreas; Freeman, R. R.; Beg, F. N.; Clark, David; Chen, S. D.; Hey, D.; Hatchett, S.; Highbarger, K.; Giraldez, E.; Green, J. S.; Gregori, G.; Lancaster, Kate; Ma, T.; Mackinnon, A. J.; Norreys, P. A.; Patel, N.; Pasley, J.; Shearer, Catherine; Stephens, R. B.; Stoeckl, C.; Storm, M.; Theobald, W.; Woerkom, L. D. Van; Weber, R.; Key, M. H.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.100.165002

Cited by 81 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(18 reference statements)

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“…Several other experiments in which pulses of 0.35-to 2-ps duration irradiated plastic foils with buried metal layers reported similar temperatures (11)(12)(13)(14). Heating with 400-J pulses of 0.8-ps duration achieved a 5-keV surface temperature decreasing to 0.6 keV at 1.3-mm depth (15).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Energy Penetration into Arrays of Aligned Nanowires Irradiated with Relativistic Intensities: Scaling to Terabar Pressures

Bargsten

Hollinger

Capeluto

et al. 2016

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Ultrahigh-energy density (UHED) matter, characterized by energy densities >1 × 10 8 J cm −3 and pressures greater than a gigabar, is encountered in the center of stars and inertial confinement fusion capsules driven by the world's largest lasers. Similar conditions can be obtained with compact, ultrahigh contrast, femtosecond lasers focused to relativistic intensities onto targets composed of aligned nanowire arrays. We report the measurement of the key physical process in determining the energy density deposited in high-aspect-ratio nanowire array plasmas: the energy penetration. By monitoring the x-ray emission from buried Co tracer segments in Ni nanowire arrays irradiated at an intensity of 4 × 10 19 W cm, we demonstrate energy penetration depths of several micrometers, leading to UHED plasmas of that size. Relativistic three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, validated by these measurements, predict that irradiation of nanostructures at intensities of >1 × 10 22 W cm −2 will lead to a virtually unexplored extreme UHED plasma regime characterized by energy densities in excess of 8 × 10 10 J cm −3

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 73%

Energy Penetration into Arrays of Aligned Nanowires Irradiated with Relativistic Intensities: Scaling to Terabar Pressures

Bargsten

Hollinger

Capeluto

et al. 2016

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“…These efforts are motivated by the desire to investigate the fundamental science involved in these laser interactions [1][2][3] and by the possibility of developing a number of applications. These applications include novel particle sources such as relativistic electron 4,5 and ion 6 beams and monochromatic x-ray and gammaray generation 7 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Backward-propagating MeV electrons from 1018 W/cm2 laser interactions with water

et al. 2015

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We present an experimental study of the generation of ∼MeV electrons opposite to the direction of laser propagation following the relativistic interaction at normal incidence of a ∼3 mJ, 10 18 W/cm 2 short pulse laser with a flowing 30 μm diameter water column target. Faraday cup measurements record hundreds of pC charge accelerated to energies exceeding 120 keV, and energy-resolved measurements of secondary x-ray emissions reveal an x-ray spectrum peaking above 800 keV, which is significantly higher energy than previous studies with similar experimental conditions and more than five times the ∼110 keV ponderomotive energy scale for the laser. We show that the energetic x-rays generated in the experiment result from backwardgoing, high-energy electrons interacting with the focusing optic and vacuum chamber walls with only a small component of x-ray emission emerging from the target itself. We also demonstrate that the high energy radiation can be suppressed through the attenuation of the nanosecond-scale pre-pulse. These results are supported by 2D Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulations of the laser-plasma interaction that exhibit beam-like backward-propagating MeV electrons.

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“…Measurements of shock wave dynamics at earlier times are scarce. Some information may be gleaned from X-ray spectroscopy [12], however such data are challenging to analyze and rely on substantial modeling for interpretation.…”

Section: Experimental Measurement Of Shock Waves Generated By Intensementioning

confidence: 99%

Generation of shock waves in dense plasmas by high-intensity laser pulses

et al. 2015

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Abstract. When intense short-pulse laser beams (I > 10 22 W/m 2 ,  < 20 ps) interact with high density plasmas, strong shock waves are launched. These shock waves may be generated by a range of processes, and the relative signifi cance of the various mechanisms driving the formation of these shock waves is not well understood. It is challenging to obtain experimental data on shock waves near the focus of such intense laser-plasma interactions. The hydrodynamics of such interactions is, however, of great importance to fast ignition based inertial confi nement fusion schemes as it places limits upon the time available for depositing energy in the compressed fuel, and thereby directly affects the laser requirements. In this manuscript we present the results of magnetohydrodynamic simulations showing the formation of shock waves under such conditions, driven by the j × B force and the thermal pressure gradient (where j is the current density and B the magnetic fi eld strength). The time it takes for shock waves to form is evaluated over a wide range of material and current densities. It is shown that the formation of intense relativistic electron current driven shock waves and other related hydrodynamic phenomena may be expected over time scales of relevance to intense laser-plasma experiments and the fast ignition approach to inertial confi nement fusion. A newly emerging technique for studying such interactions is also discussed. This approach is based upon Doppler spectroscopy and offers promise for investigating early time shock wave hydrodynamics launched by intense laser pulses.

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Laser Heating of Solid Matter by Light-Pressure-Driven Shocks at Ultrarelativistic Intensities

Cited by 81 publications

References 20 publications

Energy Penetration into Arrays of Aligned Nanowires Irradiated with Relativistic Intensities: Scaling to Terabar Pressures

Energy Penetration into Arrays of Aligned Nanowires Irradiated with Relativistic Intensities: Scaling to Terabar Pressures

Backward-propagating MeV electrons from 1018 W/cm2 laser interactions with water

Generation of shock waves in dense plasmas by high-intensity laser pulses

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