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Beyond the ponderomotive limit: Direct laser acceleration of relativistic electrons in sub-critical plasmas
We examine a regime in which a linearly polarized laser pulse with relativistic intensity irradiates a sub-critical plasma for much longer than the characteristic electron response time. A steady-state channel is formed in the plasma in this case with quasi-static transverse and longitudinal electric fields. These relatively weak fields significantly alter the electron dynamics. The longitudinal electric field reduces the longitudinal dephasing between the electron and the wave, leading to an enhancement of the electron energy gain from the pulse. The energy gain in this regime is ultimately limited by the superluminosity of the wave fronts induced by the plasma in the channel. The transverse electric field alters the oscillations of the transverse electron velocity, allowing it to remain anti-parallel to laser electric field and leading to a significant energy gain. The energy enhancement is accompanied by the development of significant oscillations perpendicular to the plane of the driven motion, making trajectories of energetic electrons three-dimensional. Proper electron injection into the laser beam can further boost the electron energy gain.
Deep learning-based predictive models for laser direct drive at the Omega Laser Facility
The rich and complex physics of inertial confinement fusion provides a unique and challenging space for high-fidelity first-principles modeling. Consequently, simulation codes that are used to design experiments are computationally expensive and lack the predictive capability required for extensive parameter exploration in search of a high-performing design for laser direct drive. In this article, we present two deep-learning-based predictive models intended to address these difficulties. The first model (TL DNN) acts as a fast emulator of simulations as well as experiments at the Omega Laser Facility. This model is trained on a simulation database and subsequently calibrated on experimental data using transfer learning. To facilitate the development of this model, an autoencoder is developed to reduce the dimensionality of the input space by compressing the laser pulse input. The model predicts key experimental scalar observables of Omega experiments with high accuracy and minimal computational cost. This deep neural net enables rapid exploration of a high-dimensional input parameter space for an optimal implosion design. The second model (DNN SM+) aims to extend the statistical modeling work of Lees et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 127, 105001 (2021)], by increasing the complexity of the model space and allowing for coupling between degradation terms. Since the model capacity of DNN SM+ is higher than the model of Lees et al., DNN SM+ can potentially provide an improvement in predictive capability, and we use this model to provide insight into complicated degradation dependencies.
Imaging of dark line defect growth in high-power diode laser cavities using broadband near infrared light emission from the laser cavity
An in situ and nondestructive technique is developed to image the formation and evolution of dark line defects in the cavity of a high-power diode laser. Here, the technique uses broadband near infrared emission that originates in the laser's core layers and enables defects to be imaged with high spatial resolution through the substrate. In particular, it enables defect imaging through the substrate of shorter wavelength lasers, even when the substrate is opaque near the lasing wavelength. The evolution of dark line defects during aging is studied in several devices, with correlations established between the observed characteristics of defect growth and changes in device parameters such as optical power, operating wavelength, threshold current, and slope efficiency. Gradual degradation is found to be associated with dark line defects that slowly propagate from dark spots that are present in the device interior in its fresh (unaged) condition, rather than propagating from spots that are formed during aging, suggesting a strategy to screen fresh devices for expected reliability. This defect growth phenomenon is found to be particularly evident in the dark spots near the output facet.
Scalings of laser-driven MeV electron sources with relativistic multi-picosecond laser pulses
We investigate the generation of MeV electrons in relativistic multi-picosecond laser–solid interactions, using two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Scanning a parameter space of intensities from 10 18 to 10 20 W/cm 2 and pulse durations between 100 fs and 10 ps, we discuss scalings of the effective hot electron temperature and MeV electron dose relevant to applications, as well as the direct laser acceleration mechanism that drives electrons to energies much higher than the ponderomotive potential of the laser pulse.
Semiconductor disk laser-pumped subpicosecond holmium fibre laser
The first passively mode-locked holmium fibre laser has been demonstrated, with a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) as a mode locker. Semiconductor disk lasers have been used for the first time to pump holmium fibre lasers. We obtained 830-fs pulses at a repetition rate of 34 MHz with an average output power of 6.6 mW.
Laser ablation and ionisation by laser plasma radiation in the atmospheric-pressure mass spectrometry of organic compounds
A new method was developed for the mass spectrometric analysis of organic and bioorganic compounds, which involves laser ablation with the ionisation of its products by laser-plasma radiation and enables analysing gaseous, liquid, and solid substances at atmospheric pressure without sample preparation. The capabilities of this method were demonstrated by the examples of fast pharmaceutical composition screening, real-time atmosphere composition analysis, and construction of the mass spectrometric images of organic compound distributions in biological materials. (interaction of laser radiation with matter)
Numerical simulation of the main characteristics of a high-pressure DF – CO{sub 2} laser for amplification of picosecond laser pulses
The gain characteristics of the medium of a pulsed DF – CO{sub 2} laser in the ten-micron region at the working gas pressures from 1 to 2.5 atm, which were experimentally determined in [4], are numerically simulated using a scheme that includes the main chemical and relaxation processes. It is shown that the chosen scheme of processes makes it possible (i) to numerically describe the experimental data on the temporal behaviour of gains; (ii) to explain the reason for early degradation of gains (at the degree of D{sub 2} transformation of about 20%); (iii) from comparison of experimental and calculated temporal gain profiles, to determine the degree of photodissociation of F{sub 2} molecules, which is an important parameter determining the operation of pulsed chemical DF – CO{sub 2} lasers; and (iv) to predict the gain characteristics of working mixtures depending on their composition and pressure and on the initiation parameters. The predicted gains in the mixtures of the optimal composition at a pressure of 2.5 atm, a degree of dissociation of F{sub 2} molecules per flash ∼1%, and a flash duration at half-width of ∼3 μs are ∼7 m{sup -1}. (lasers)
Enhanced direct laser vacuum acceleration of a charged particle in crossing plane-wave laser beams
Strict theory shows that in the field of two laser beams crossing in vacuum with a phase delay π/2, a unique dynamics of the electron is observed. Unlike a single-beam case in which the velocity component along the laser magnetic field is always zero, the electron motion in the case of crossing beams is completely three-dimensional and hence a larger maximum value of the relativistic factor Γ, i.e. acceleration of an electron to larger energies, can be achieved. (laser acceleration of electrons)
Acceleration of electrons by a laser pulse at its output onto an optical surface of the vacuum – transparent medium interface. Laser synchrotron
We consider the electron dynamics in the field of an electromagnetic wave produced at the vacuum – transparent medium interface upon reflection from the boundary, close to total internal reflection. The propagation velocity of a constant phase of the electromagnetic wave along the interface can vary from c/n to infinity (c is the speed of light in vacuum, and n is the refractive index of the medium at the interface). In this case, there emerge regions of positive and negative phases of the field with wavelengths, approximately equal to half the wavelength of the original laser beam, which can propagate at a speed close to that of light in vacuum. If a beam of relativistic electrons propagates along the surface, they can gain energy and accelerate, as well as radiate. With closed trajectories of electron motion, a laser synchrotron will be implemented as a result of many acceleration cycles. (extreme laser radiation: physics and fundamental applications)
10-W mid-IR optical parametric oscillators based on ZnGeP{sub 2} elements pumped by a fibre-laser-pumped Ho: YAG Laser. Experimental and numerical study
The possibility of increasing the power and efficiency of 3.5 – 5.0 μm optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) based on one or two ZnGeP{sub 2} crystals pumped by a repetitively pulsed Ho: YAG laser ( λ = 2097 nm), which, in turn, is pumped by a thulium fibre laser ( λ = 1908 nm), is studied. The OPO based on a tandem of ZnGeP{sub 2} elements is demonstrated to generate high-quality beams with an average power up to 10 W in pulses with durations of 15 – 25 ns at a repetition rate of ∼17 kHz. The total conversion efficiency of the fibre laser power to the mid-IR radiation reached 25%. A theoretical OPO model explaining a cluster spectrum and higher output power in the case of the ZnGeP{sub 2} tandem than in the case of a single element is developed.
Optimisation of parameters of Raman laser pulse compression in a plasma for its implementation using the PEARL laser facility (IAP RAS)
We consider Raman compression of laser pulses in a plasma under the conditions of an experiment planned at the Institute of Applied Physics of the Russian Academy of Sciences on the PEARL laser facility. The analysis is based on the equations describing, among other things, the effect of plasma dispersion and relativistic nonlinearity, as well as the dynamics of the field near the plasma wave breaking threshold. It is shown that the main limiting factors are excessive frequency modulation of the pump pulse and a too low plasma density in which the plasma wave breaking can occur. To reduce the negative influence of these effects, we suggest using an intense and short (on the order of the plasma period) seed laser pulse. Numerical simulation shows the possibility of a hundredfold increase in the intensity of the compressed pulse in comparison with the intensity of the pump pulse at a length of uniform plasma of 2 cm. (paper)
IN-SITU PROBING OF RADIATION-INDUCED PROCESSING OF ORGANICS IN ASTROPHYSICAL ICE ANALOGS-NOVEL LASER DESORPTION LASER IONIZATION TIME-OF-FLIGHT MASS SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES
Understanding the evolution of organic molecules in ice grains in the interstellar medium (ISM) under cosmic rays, stellar radiation, and local electrons and ions is critical to our understanding of the connection between ISM and solar systems. Our study is aimed at reaching this goal of looking directly into radiation-induced processing in these ice grains. We developed a two-color laser-desorption laser-ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopic method (2C-MALDI-TOF), similar to matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectroscopy. Results presented here with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) probe molecules embedded in water-ice at 5 K show for the first time that hydrogenation and oxygenation are the primary chemical reactions that occur in astrophysical ice analogs when subjected to Ly{alpha} radiation. We found that hydrogenation can occur over several unsaturated bonds and the product distribution corresponds to their stabilities. Multiple hydrogenation efficiency is found to be higher at higher temperatures (100 K) compared to 5 K-close to the interstellar ice temperatures. Hydroxylation is shown to have similar efficiencies at 5 K or 100 K, indicating that addition of O atoms or OH radicals to pre-ionized PAHs is a barrierless process. These studies-the first glimpses into interstellar ice chemistry through analog studies-show that once accreted onto ice grains PAHs lose their PAH spectroscopic signatures through radiation chemistry, which could be one of the reason for the lack of PAH detection in interstellar ice grains, particularly the outer regions of cold, dense clouds or the upper molecular layers of protoplanetary disks.
Two-level laser: Analytical results and the laser transition
The problem of the two-level laser is studied analytically. The steady-state solution is expressed as a continued fraction and allows for accurate approximation by rational functions. Moreover, we show that the abrupt change observed in the pump dependence of the steady-state population is directly connected to the transition to the lasing regime. The condition for a sharp transition to Poissonian statistics is expressed as a scaling limit of vanishing cavity loss and light-matter coupling, {kappa}{yields}0, g{yields}0, such that g{sup 2}/{kappa} stays finite and g{sup 2}/{kappa}>2{gamma}, where {gamma} is the rate of nonradiative losses. The same scaling procedure is also shown to describe a similar change to the Poisson distribution in the Scully-Lamb laser model, suggesting that the low-{kappa}, low-g asymptotics is of more general significance for the laser transition.
Time-resolved dual-comb measurement of number density and temperature in a laser-induced plasma
We demonstrate time-resolved dual-comb spectroscopy of a laser-induced plasma and characterize the temporal evolution of the absorption excitation temperature and population number density for multiple Fe transitions. The spectrum of three excited-state transitions of Fe around 533 nm are simultaneously detected at different time delays following laser ablation of a stainless steel sample. This work probes late-time behavior of laser-induced ablation plumes during plasma cooling, significant for revealing important information on molecule and particle formation. The high spectral resolution and broadband capability of the dual-comb technique, combined with time-resolved measurement capability, will aid in characterization of plasma properties, species identification, and higher resolution spectroscopy including isotopic analysis.
Simultaneous Laser Ranging and Communication from an Earth-Based Satellite Laser Ranging Station to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in Lunar Orbit
We report a free space laser communication experiment from the satellite laser ranging (SLR) station at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) to the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) in lunar orbit through the on board one-way Laser Ranging (LR) receiver. Pseudo random data and sample image files were transmitted to LRO using a 4096-ary pulse position modulation (PPM) signal format. Reed-Solomon forward error correction codes were used to achieve error free data transmission at a moderate coding overhead rate. The signal fading due to the atmosphere effect was measured and the coding gain could be estimated.