Observation of the plasma channel dynamics and Coulomb explosion in the interaction of a high-intensity laser pulse with a He gas jet

Abstract

Sarkisov, G.S.; Bychenkov, V. Yu.; Tikhonchuk, V.T.; Maksimchuk, Anatoly; Chen, Shouyuan; Wagner, R.; Mourou, G.; and Umstadter, Donald P., "Observation of the plasma channel dynamics and Coulomb explosion in the interaction of a high-intensity laser pulse with a He gas jet" (1997). Donald Umstadter Publications. 44.

Forward Ion Acceleration in Thin Films Driven by a High-Intensity Laser

“…Experiments now being carried out involve highenergy ions generated in the interaction of laser pulses with solid targets [1,2], gas jets [3,4], and clusters [5,6]. Most of the current research in this area is directed towards the development of a compact neutron source [7][8][9][10], while several other nuclear applications have recently been proposed: isotope production and initiation of fission reactions [11].…”

“…While the former mechanism has been observed for many years [12], the latter one has only recently been observed in experiments with gas targets [3,4]. For the gas targets, when the laser pulse duration t is long, t .…”

“…2a). We may compare our estimate with an estimate based on a ponderomotive potential [23], which has been used for the description of ion acceleration in gas targets [3,11] …”

Laser acceleration of protons from thin film targets

“…Experiments now being carried out involve high-energy ions generated in the interaction of laser pulses with solid targets [1,2], gas jets [3,4], and clusters [5,6]. Most of the current research in this area is directed towards the development of a compact neutron source [7][8][9][10], while several other nuclear applications have recently been proposed: isotope production and initiation of fission reactions [11].…”

“…While the former mechanism has been observed for many years [12], the latter one has only recently been observed in experiments with gas targets [3,4].…”