Characterization of bright betatron radiation generated by direct laser acceleration of electrons in plasma of near critical density

Directed x-rays produced in the interaction of sub-picosecond laser pulses of moderate relativistic intensity with plasma of near-critical density are investigated. Synchrotron-like (betatron) radiation occurs in the process of direct laser acceleration (DLA) of electrons in a relativisticlaser channel when the electrons undergo transverse betatron oscillations in self-generated quasi-static electric and magnetic fields. In anexperiment at the PHELIX laser system, high-current directed beams of DLA electrons with a mean energy ten times higher than the ponderomotive potential and maximum energy up to 100 MeV were measured at 10^(19) W/cm^(2)laser intensity. The spectrum of directed x-raysin the range of 5–60 keV was evaluated using two sets of Ross filters placed at 0°and 10°to the laser pulse propagation axis. The differential x-ray absorption method allowed for absolute measurements of the angular-dependent photon fluence. We report 10^(13) photons/sr withenergies >5 keV measured at 0°to the laser axis and a brilliance of 10^(21) photons s^(−1) mm^(−2) mrad−2(0.1%BW)−1. The angular distributionof the emission has an FWHM of 14°–16°. Thanks to the ultra-high photon fluence, point-like radiation source, and ultra-short emissiontime, DLA-based keV backlighters are promising for various applications in high-energy-density research with kilojoule petawatt-class laserfacilities.

Effect of fluence and ambient environment on the surface and structural modification of femtosecond laser irradiated Ti

Under certain conditions, ultrafast pulsed laser interaction with matter leads to the formation of self-organized conical as well as periodic surface structures （commonly reffered to as, laser induced periodic surface structures, LIPSS）. The purpose of the present investigations is to explore the effect of fsec laser fluence and ambient environments （Vacuum ＆ 02） on the formation of LIPSS and conical structures on the Ti surface. The surface morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscope （SEM）. The ablation threshold with single and multiple （N = 100） shots and the existence of an incubation effect was demonstrated by SEM investigations for both the vacuum and the 02 environment. The phase analysis and chemical composition of the exposed targets were performed by x-ray diffraction （XRD） and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy （EDS）, respectively. SEM investigations reveal the formation of LIPSS （nano ＆ micro）. FFT d-spacing calculations illustrate the dependence of periodicity on the fluence and ambient environment. The periodicity of nano-scale LIPSS is higher in the case of irradiation under vacuum conditions as compared to 02. Furthermore, the 02 environment reduces the ablation threshold. XRD data reveal that for the 02 environment, new phases （oxides of Ti） are formed. EDS analysis exhibits that after irradiation under vacuum conditions, the percentage of impurity element （A1） is reduced. The irradiation in the 02 environment results in 15% atomic diffusion of oxygen.

Bright betatron radiation from direct-laseraccelerated electrons at moderate relativistic laser intensity

Direct laser acceleration(DLA)of electrons in a plasma of near-critical electron density(NCD)and the associated synchrotron-like radiation are discussed for moderate relativistic laser intensity(normalized laser amplitude a0≤4.3)and ps length pulse.This regime is typical of kJ PW-class laser facilities designed for high-energy-density(HED)research.In experiments at the PHELIX facility,it has been demonstrated that interaction of a 1019 W/cm2 sub-ps laser pulse with a sub-mm length NCD plasma results in the generation of high-current well-directed superponderomotive electrons with an effective temperature ten times higher than the ponderomotive potential[Rosmej et al.,Plasma Phys.Controlled Fusion 62,115024(2020)].Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations provide good agreement with the measured electron energy distribution and are used in the current work to study synchrotron radiation from the DLA-accelerated electrons.The resulting x-ray spectrum with a critical energy of 5 keV reveals an ultrahigh photon number of 731011 in the 1–30 keV photon energy range at the focused laser energy of 20 J.Numerical simulations of betatron x-ray phase contrast imaging based on the DLA process for the parameters of a PHELIX laser are presented.The results are of interest for applications in HED experiments,which require a ps x-ray pulse and a high photon flux.

Review of nonlinear effects under TW-power PS pulses amplification in GARPUN-MTW Ti:sapphire-KrF laser facility

Investigations were carried out at the multistage hybrid Ti:sapphire–KrF laser facility GARPUN-MTW on the direct amplification of TW-power picosecondUVlaser pulses in e-beam-pumped KrF amplifiers and propagation along a 100mlaboratory air pass.The experiments identified the main nonlinear effects and their impact on the amplification efficiency,amplifier optics degradation,beam quality and focusability,and the evolution of radiation spectra.The research was performed towards an implementation of the shock-ignition concept of inertial-confinement fusion using krypton fluoride laser drivers.

Self-focusing of UV radiation in 1mmscale plasma in a deep ablative crater produced by 100ns,1 GW KrF laser pulse in the context of ICF

Experiments at the GARPUN KrF laser facility and 2D simulations using the NUTCY code were performed to study the irradiation of metal and polymethyl methacrylate(PMMA)targets by 100 nsUVpulses at intensities up to 5×10^(12)Wcm^(−2).In both targets,a deep crater of length 1mm was produced owing to the 2D geometry of the supersonic propagation of the ablation front in condensed matter that was pushed sideways by a conical shock wave.Small-scale filamentation of the laser beam caused by thermal self-focusing of radiation in the crater-confined plasma was evidenced by the presence of a microcrater relief on the bottom of the main crater.In translucent PMMA,with a penetration depth forUVlight of several hundred micrometers,a long narrow channel of length 1mmand diameter 30μmwas observed emerging from the crater vertex.Similar channels with a length-to-diameter aspect ratio of∼1000 were produced by a repeated-pulse KrF laser in PMMA and fused silica glass at an intensity of∼10^(9)Wcm^(−2).This channel formation is attributed to the effects of radiation self-focusing in the plasma and Kerr self-focusing in a partially transparent target material after shallow-angle reflection by the crater wall.Experimental modeling of the initial stage of inertial confinement fusion-scale direct-drive KrF laser interaction with subcritical coronal plasmas from spherical and cone-type targets using craterconfined plasmas seems to be feasible with increased laser intensity above 10^(14) W cm^(−2).

Thermal Energy of Confined Gravitons can Vary Cold Geodesic Curves

Internal energy of real warm bodies can change their kinetic-potential energy balance on Keplerian orbits and relativistic geodesic. Chiral nature of the mass results in chirality of gravitons and their energy confinement within the constant energy charge of a moving thermodynamical body. Zero energy-momentum gravitons provide dissipative self-heating and spiral fall of massive stars on gravitating centers. Computed self-heating of the pulsar PSR B1913＋16 quantitatively describes its period decay without an outward emission of metric waves in question. Deviation of warm bodies from geodesic trajectories of cold point matter complies with Einstein＇s directives toward pure field physics of material space plenum without metric singularities.

From Steady 4D Quantization of Valence Electrons to Material Space Paradigm

Potential electric and gravitational fields do not change steady quantized states of electrons in chemical bonds, microscopic clusters of charges and macroscopic superconducting rings. There are no theoretical grounds to create Squid-type instruments to measure electric and gravitational fields with quantum accuracy basing on the Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization of charged particles. Squid-verified spatial flatness for superfluid electrons corresponds to the material space paradigm for reality.

X-Ray and VUV Spectra from the Laser Plasma Produced with “Kanal-2” Facility

The paper presents experimental results obtained on “Kanal-2” facility. Laser radiation focusing on the surface of plane magnesium targets created the high temperature plasma, which emitted X-ray and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) radiation. This radiation spectrum was investigated with two spectrographs: the mica crystal spectrograph (working range 8.2 ? - 9.6 ?) and the grazing incidence VUV spectrograph (working rage 30 ? - 130 ?). A set of beryllium stepwise attenuators appended the diagnostic complex and allowed us to get an approximated picture of a continuous spectrum within the range of 2.2 ? - 6.2 ?. The estimation of the plasma electron temperature Te from the ratio between the intensity of the dielectronic satellites and the resonance line gives Te ~ 180 eV. The ratio between the intensity of the resonance and intercombination lines gives the electron density of the emitting zone ne ~ 2 × 1019 cm-3. Some lines observed within the spectral range of 8.5 ? - 9.1 ? belong to none of the transitions of Mg ions. Perhaps the observed spectrum is determined by the transitions in so-called hollow ions of Mg, i.e. in the ions with unfilled inner shells. The spectra obtained with the grazing incidence spectrograph and with the minimum-directioned discrepancy iteration method of spectrum reconstruction from the attenuation curve in the beryllium stepwise attenuators are also presented.

The Mass and Size of Photons in the 5-Dimensional Extended Space Model

We propose the generalization of Einstein’s special theory of relativity (STR). In our model, we use the (1 + 4)-dimensional space G, which is the extension of the (1 + 3)-dimensional Minkowski space M. As a fifth additional coordinate, the interval S is used. This value is constant under the usual Lorentz transformations in M, but it changes when the transformations in the extended space G are used. We call this model the Extended space model (ESM). From a physical point of view, our expansion means that processes in which the rest mass of the particles changes are acceptable now. In the ESM, gravity and electromagnetism are combined in one field. In the ESM, a photon can have a nonzero mass and this mass can be either positive or negative. It is also possible to establish in the frame of ESM connection between mass of a particle and its size.

Time-of-flight methodologies with large-area diamond detectors for ion characterization in laser-driven experiments

The time-of-flight technique coupled with semiconductor detectors is a powerful instrument to provide real-time characterization of ions accelerated because of laser-matter interactions.Nevertheless,the presence of strong electromagnetic pulses(EMPs)generated during the interactions can severely hinder its employment.For this reason,the diagnostic system must be designed to have high EMP shielding.Here we present a new advanced prototype of detector,developed at ENEA-Centro Ricerche Frascati(Italy),with a large-area(15 mm×15 mm)polycrystalline diamond sensor having 150 μm thickness.The tailored detector design and testing ensure high sensitivity and,thanks to the fast temporal response,high-energy resolution of the reconstructed ion spectrum.The detector was offline calibrated and then successfully tested during an experimental campaign carried out at the PHELIX laser facility(E_(L)~100 J,τ_(L)=750 fs,I_(L)(1-2.5)×10^(19)W/cm^(2))at GSI(Germany).The high rejection to EMP fields was demonstrated and suitable calibrated spectra of the accelerated protons were obtained.

Future Physics Programme of BESⅢ

There has recently been a dramatic renewal of interest in hadron spectroscopy and charm physics. This renaissance has been driven in part by the discovery of a plethora of charmonium-like XYZ states at BESⅢ and B factories, and the observation of an intriguing proton-antiproton threshold enhancement and the possibly related X(1835) meson state at BESⅢ, as well as the threshold measurements of charm mesons and charm baryons. We present a detailed survey of the important topics in tau-charm physics and hadron physics that can be further explored at BESⅢ during the remaining operation period of BEPCⅡ. This survey will help in the optimization of the data-taking plan over the coming years, and provides physics motivation for the possible upgrade of BEPCⅡ to higher luminosity.

Investigation of thermal evolution of nanodomain structures in nonlinear barium sodium niobate crystals

By the 90° elastic light scattering investigation and far field observation in the range of 20 - 800 ℃, the relation between behavior of light scattering anomalies and evolution of nanodomain structures in lattice of barium sodium niobate （Ba2NaNb5O15, BSN） crystal was clarified. The correlation between anomalies on the temperature curves of the elastic light scattering intensity and temperature transformations of nanodomains was studied by X-ray and electron microscope methods. Phase transition near 500 ℃ and movement in field of scattering light could be explained by appearance of a new incommensurate phase.