Current new applications of laser plasmas

Abstract

This report describes several new applications of laser-produced plasmas that have arisen in the last few years. Most of the applications have been an outgrowth of the active research in laser/matter interaction inspired by the pursuit of laser fusion. Unusual characteristics of high-intensity laser/matter interaction, such as intense x-ray and particle emission, were noticed early in the field and are now being employed in a significant variety of applications outside the fusion field. Applications range from biology to materials science to pulsed-power control and particle accelerators. Optical probing * Thomson scattering * Faraday rotation * fnierferewnetry I TT Ablation surface Hard x-rays Soft x-rays Harmonics (n<j 0) Raman scattered light Laser u> n Critical surface (n c) Expanding sheath and plasma blow off