Laser–plasma interactions for fast ignition

Kemp, Andreas; Fiúza, Frederico; Debayle, A.; Johzaki, Tomoyuki; Mori, W. B.; Patel, P. K.; Sentoku, Y.; Silva, L.O.

doi:10.1088/0029-5515/54/5/054002

Cited by 70 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 129 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Recent simulations for similar laser and plasma conditions confirm that indeed the most energetic electrons originate in the underdense plasma region. 31 A comparison to the experimental electron temperature results is shown in Fig. 5.…”

Section: Electron Productionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…33 Near the critical density (defined as the density above which the laser does not propagate) acceleration occurs predominantly through the J Â B mechanism, leading to the so-called ponderomotive scaling 29 of T e as a function of the local laser intensity, I (in W cm À2 ): T e % 0:511 Â ð ffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi ffi 1 þ Ik 2 =1:4 Â 10 18 q À 1Þ (MeV), where k is the laser wavelength in lm. In the under-dense region of the plasma, primarily produced via ablation from the laser prepulse, electron acceleration occurs due to stochastic processes 31 and T e is given by 30 …”

Section: Electron Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The scaling of electron and positron generation in intense laser-solid interactions

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper presents experimental scalings of the electrons and positrons produced by intense laser-target interactions at relativistic laser intensities (1018–1020 W cm−2). The data were acquired from three short-pulse laser facilities with laser energies ranging from 80 to 1500 J. We found a non-linear (≈EL2) scaling of positron yield [Chen et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 215001 (2015)] and a linear scaling of electron yield with the laser energy. These scalings are explained by theoretical and numerical analyses. Positron acceleration by the target sheath field is confirmed by the positron energy spectrum, which has a pronounced peak at energies near the sheath potential, as determined by the observed maximum energies of accelerated protons. The parameters of laser-produced electron-positron jets are summarized together with the theoretical energy scaling. The measured energy-squared scaling of relativistic electron-positron jets indicates the possibility to create an astrophysically relevant experimental platform with such jets using multi-kilojoule high intensity lasers currently under construction.

show abstract

Section: Electron Productionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Electron Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The scaling of electron and positron generation in intense laser-solid interactions

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…[204,93,207,81,5,9,177,152,88] Yet, the bulk of research to date has indicated that electrons generated by a petawatt laser at an optically-thick interface do not naturally exhibit collinear trajectories with respect to the laser propagation axis, but rather substantial divergences. This has been shown with some clarity in experiment and through kinetic numerical simulations, but the primary underlying cause has eluded a clear description.…”

Section: 5mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Other promising tracks of research have focused on understanding the initial absorption in detail; that is, the processes controlling the conversion of the ignitor laser energy into electron energy [86,152,88,72,163,175,62,83,106,109] . Germane research of this latter Figure 1.5 : Overview of the physics involved in the coupling of the ignitor pulse energy to the imploding DT fuel.…”

Section: 5mentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling of Intense Laser Driven High Energy Density Plasmas

Levy¹

2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Illuminating matter with petawatt (one quadrillion watts) laser light creates extreme states of plasmas with temperatures exceeding ten million degrees Celsius and pressures exceeding one billion earth atmospheres. These high energy density conditions are driven at the microscopic scale by dense currents of relativistic electrons, oscillating violently in the intense laser fields, as well as the plasma processes arising when these particles lose phase coherence and are injected into bulk target material. Suitably harnessed, this setup opens the way to compact relativistic particle accelerators, laser fusion energy sources, laboratory astrophysics, ultrafast imaging systems, proton cancer therapies, anti-matter creation, high-energy radiation sources and intense high harmonic generation. In this thesis, theoretical models of the absorption of high power laser light by matter are derived, applications of these models are investigated, and simulation tools supporting the diagnosis and implementation of these applications are developed.In particular, an advanced, relativistically-correct theoretical model of petawatt laser absorption by optically-thick targets is developed, accounting for both ion and electron beam aspects of the interaction. Predictions of the model for the energetic properties of these beams, as well as the dynamical motion of the laser-matter interface, are elucidated. Results from high resolution, relativistic, kinetic particle-in-cell simulations using the LSP code are shown to be in good agreement with the model. intensity I l and wavelength l . These results are shown to bound several dozens of published experimental and simulation data points, underlining the usefulness of the iii model. These results are extended to include e↵ects related to heterogeneous plasmas, including relativistically-underdense plasmas relevant to 'pre-plasma' situations, and realistic laser spatio-temporal profiles. Our dynamic considerations of absorption processes are then extended to the 10-petawatt scale. In a manner that could support reaching the QED-plasma regime, a mechanism of focusing high power laser light to higher intensities is elucidated. Supporting the measurement and validation of these models, the development of a new simulation tool for understanding high energy density plasmas, based on the proton radiography technique, is detailed. AcknowledgementsOver the past 5 1 / 2 years it has often seemed that pursuit of graduate studies has formed an exercise in the stewardship of resources entrusted to me by advisors, mentors, collaborators and others. In endeavors bearing fruit, my stewardship of these resources has seemed adequate. In the totality of outcomes, to these people I wish to express my warmest and deepest gratitude. At Livermore I am particularly grateful to Tony Link for interesting and useful discussions on intense laser-plasma interactions and on the LSP code. I also wish to thank my colleagues

show abstract

“…In electron-driven fast ignition (EFI), a fast electron jet generated by ultra-high intensity lasers triggers ignition of the thermonuclear fuel. Due to the very large divergences and the too high kinetic energies found in EFI experiments and simulations [2,3], ion-driven fast ignition (IFI) has been taking an increasing interest over the last years. Ion fast ignition [4,5] offers several advantages over EFI, such as generation of collimated beams, well known interaction with the plasma and higher flexibility.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ion beam requirements for fast ignition of inertial fusion targets

Honrubia

Murakami

2015

Physics of Plasmas

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ion beam requirements for fast ignition are investigated by numerical simulation taking into account new effects such as ion beam divergence not included before. We assume that ions are generated by the TNSA scheme in a curved foil placed inside a re-entrant cone and focused on the cone apex or beyond. From the focusing point to the compressed core ions propagate with a given divergence angle. Ignition energies are obtained for two compressed fuel configurations heated by proton and carbon ion beams. The dependence of the ignition energies on the beam divergence angle and on the position of the ion beam focusing point have been analyzed. Comparison between TNSA and quasi-monoenergetic ions is also shown.

show abstract

Laser–plasma interactions for fast ignition

Cited by 70 publications

References 129 publications

The scaling of electron and positron generation in intense laser-solid interactions

The scaling of electron and positron generation in intense laser-solid interactions

Modeling of Intense Laser Driven High Energy Density Plasmas

Ion beam requirements for fast ignition of inertial fusion targets

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About