A5068866995- Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics
- Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications
- High-pressure geophysics and materials
- Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma
- Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Laser Design and Applications
- Laser Material Processing Techniques
- Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Advanced X-ray Imaging Techniques
- Planetary Science and Exploration
- Ion-surface interactions and analysis
- Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Terahertz technology and applications
- Earthquake Detection and Analysis
- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Ocular and Laser Science Research
- Advanced Chemical Physics Studies
- Advanced Semiconductor Detectors and Materials
- Pulsed Power Technology Applications
- Advanced Electron Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Particle Accelerators and Free-Electron Lasers
- Machine Learning in Materials Science
- Adaptive optics and wavefront sensing
- Radiation Detection and Scintillator Technologies
Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
2016-2024
Politecnico di Milano
2013-2016
Abstract Laser-driven ion accelerators can deliver high-energy, high-peak current beams and are thus attracting attention as a compact alternative to conventional accelerators. However, achieving sufficiently high energy levels suitable for applications such radiation therapy remains challenge laser-driven Here we generate proton with spectrally separated high-energy component of up 150 MeV by irradiating solid-density plastic foil targets ultrashort laser pulses from repetitive petawatt...
A number of laser facilities coming online all over the world promise capability high-power experiments with shot repetition rates between 1 and 10 Hz. Target availability technical issues related to interaction environment could become a bottleneck for exploitation such facilities. In this paper, we report on target needs three different classes experiments: dynamic compression physics, electron transport isochoric heating, laser-driven particle radiation sources. We also review some most...
This paper provides an up-to-date review of the problems related to generation, detection and mitigation strong electromagnetic pulses created in interaction high-power, high-energy laser with different types solid targets. It includes new experimental data obtained independently at several international laboratories. The mechanisms field generation are analyzed considered as a function intensity spectral range emissions they produce. major emphasis is put on GHz frequency domain, which most...
We report on the development of foam-based double-layer targets (DLTs) for laser-driven ion acceleration. Foam layers with a density few mg cm−3 and controlled thickness in 8–36 μm range were grown μm-thick Al foils by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The DLTs experimentally investigated varying pulse intensity, polarisation target properties. Comparing simple foils, we observed systematic enhancement maximum average energies number accelerated ions. Maximum up to 30 MeV protons 130 C6+ ions...
We present an experimental study investigating laser-driven proton acceleration via target normal sheath (TNSA) over a thickness range spanning the typical TNSA-dominant regime (∼1 μm) down to below onset of relativistic laser-transparency (<40 nm). This is done with single material in form freely adjustable films liquid crystals along high contrast (via plasma mirror) laser interaction (∼2.65 J, 30 fs, W cm−2). Thickness dependent maximum energies scale well TNSA models thinnest targets,...
The generation of energetic electron bunches by the interaction a short, ultraintense ($I>{10}^{19}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$) laser pulse with ``grating'' targets has been investigated in regime ultrahigh pulse-to-prepulse contrast (${10}^{12}$). For incidence angles close to resonant condition for surface plasmon excitation, strong emission was observed within narrow cone along target surface, energy spectra peaking at 5--8 MeV and total charge...
The development of novel target concepts is crucial to make laser-driven acceleration ion beams suitable for applications. We tested double-layer targets formed an ultralow density nanostructured carbon layer ($\ensuremath{\sim}7\text{ }\text{ }{\mathrm{mg}/\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$, $8--12\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$--thick) deposited on a $\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$--thick solid Al foil. A systematic increase in the total number accelerated ions (protons and ${\mathrm{C}}^{6+}$) as well...
A high-power, nanosecond pulsed laser impacting the surface of a material can generate an ablation plasma that drives shock wave into it; while in situ x-ray imaging provide time-resolved probe shock-induced behaviour on macroscopic length scales. Here, we report investigation laser-driven compression polyurethane foam and graphite rod by means single-pulse synchrotron phase-contrast with MHz frame rate. 6 J, 10 ns was used to compression. Physical processes governing laser-induced dynamic...
The experimental feasibility of the laser-driven ion acceleration concept with multi-layered, foam-based targets has been investigated. Targets required features have produced and characterized, exploiting potential pulsed laser deposition technique. In intensity range 1016–1017 W cm−2, they allow us to obtain maximum proton energies 2–3 times higher compared bare solid targets, able reach surpass MeV both low ultrahigh contrast pulses. results two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations,...
In this paper, we report on two fast and non-destructive methods for nanostructured film density evaluation based a combination of energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy areal measurement scanning electron microscopy (SEM) thickness evaluation. These techniques have been applied to films with ranging from the solid down few , different compositions morphologies. The high resolution an microprobe has exploited characterize non-uniform both at macroscopic scale microscopic scale.
The complex physics of the interaction between short pulse high intensity lasers and solids is so far hardly accessible by experiments. As a result missing experimental capabilities to probe electron dynamics competing instabilities, this impedes development compact laser-based next generation secondary radiation sources, e.g. for tumor therapy [Bulanov2002,ledingham2007], laboratory-astrophysics [Remington1999,Bulanov2015], fusion [Tabak2014]. At present, fundamental plasma that occur at...
Diamond formation in polystyrene (C8H8)n, which is laser-compressed and heated to conditions around 150 GPa 5000 K, has recently been demonstrated the laboratory [Kraus et al., Nat. Astron. 1, 606–611 (2017)]. Here, we show an extended analysis comparison first-principles simulations of acquired data their implications for planetary physics inertial confinement fusion. Moreover, discuss advanced diagnostic capabilities adding high-quality small angle X-ray scattering spectrally resolved...
We report on the setup and commissioning of a compact recollimating single plasma mirror for temporal contrast enhancement at Draco 150 TW laser during laser-proton acceleration experiments. The with without is characterized single-shot by means self-referenced spectral interferometry extended time excursion (SRSI-ETE) unprecedented dynamic range. This allows first measurement trigger point, which interesting quantitative investigation complex pre-plasma formation process surface target used...
Abstract We investigated the high-pressure behavior of polyethylene (CH 2 ) by probing dynamically-compressed samples with X-ray diffraction. At pressures up to 200 GPa, comparable those present inside icy giant planets (Uranus, Neptune), shock-compressed retains a polymer crystal structure, from which we infer presence significant covalent bonding. The A /m structure observe has previously been seen at significantly lower pressures, and equation state measured agrees our findings. This...
<title>Abstract</title> Laser-driven ion accelerators can deliver high-energy, high peak current beams from relativistic laser plasmas formed in solid-density materials [1, 2]. This innovative concept attracts a lot of attention for various multidisciplinary applications as compact alternative to conventional [3]. However, achieving energy levels suitable such radiation therapy remains challenge laser-driven accelerators. Here, we report on experimental generation plasma-accelerated proton...
Abstract We present structure and equation of state (EOS) measurements biaxially orientated polyethylene terephthalate (PET, $$({\hbox {C}}_{10} {\hbox {H}}_8 {O}}_4)_n$$ <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow> <mml:mo>(</mml:mo> <mml:mtext>C</mml:mtext> <mml:mn>10</mml:mn> </mml:msub> <mml:mtext>H</mml:mtext> <mml:mn>8</mml:mn> <mml:mtext>O</mml:mtext> <mml:mn>4</mml:mn> <mml:mo>)</mml:mo> </mml:mrow> <mml:mi>n</mml:mi> </mml:math> , also called...
Abstract The interaction between intense 30 fs laser pulses and foam-coated 1.5 μ m-thick Al foils in the relativistic regime (up to 5 × 10 20 W cm −2 ) is studied optimize energy conversion into laser-accelerated protons. A significant enhancement observed for foam targets terms of proton cut-off (18.5 MeV) number protons above 4.7 MeV (4 9 protons/shot) with respect uncoated (9.5 MeV, 1 protons/shot), together a sixfold increase bremsstrahlung yield. This attributed increased absorption...
We present measurements of the nucleation rate into a diamond lattice in dynamically compressed polystyrene obtained pump-probe experiment using high-energy laser system and situ femtosecond x-ray diffraction. Different temperature-pressure conditions that occur planetary interiors were probed. For single shock reaching 70 GPa 3000 K no formation was observed, while with double driving to pressures around 150 temperatures 5000 rates between ${10}^{29}$...
Extreme field gradients intrinsic to relativistic laser-interactions with thin solid targets enable compact MeV proton accelerators unique bunch characteristics. Yet, direct control of the beam profile is usually not possible. Here we present a readily applicable all-optical approach imprint detailed spatial information from driving laser pulse onto bunch. In series experiments, counter-intuitively, energetic was found exhibit identical structures as fraction passing around target limited...
Extreme states of matter exist throughout the universe, e.g., inside planetary cores, stars, or astrophysical jets. Such conditions can be generated in laboratory interaction powerful lasers with solids. Yet, measurement subsequent plasma dynamics regard to density, temperature, and ionization is a major experimental challenge. However, ultrashort x-ray pulses provided by free electron (XFELs) allow for dedicated studies, which are highly relevant study astrophysics, laser-fusion research,...
We report the development of a multipurpose differential x-ray calorimeter with broad energy bandwidth. The absorber architecture is combined Bayesian unfolding algorithm to unfold high spectra generated in high-intensity laser-matter interactions. Particularly, we show how extract absolute and our can reconstruct features not included initial guess. performance evaluated via Monte Carlo data. method accuracy electron temperatures from bremsstrahlung shown be 5% for 1 50 MeV. study solid...
Abstract This work presents first insights into the dynamics of free-surface release clouds from dynamically compressed polystyrene and pyrolytic graphite at pressures up to 200 GPa, where they transform diamond or lonsdaleite, respectively. These ejecta are released either vacuum various types catcher systems, monitored with high-speed recordings (frame rates 10 MHz). Molecular simulations used give rate preservation throughout free expansion impact process, highlighting challenges...
Small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) is a well established technique to detect nanometer scale structures in matter. In typical setup, this diagnostic uses detector with direct line of sight the target. However, harsh environment high intensity laser interaction, intense secondary radiation and high-energy particles are generated. Such setup would therefore suffer significant increase noise due background, which could eventually prevent such measurements. paper, we present novel tool...
Abstract A new approach to target development for laboratory astrophysics experiments at high-power laser facilities is presented. With the dawn of lasers, has emerged as a field, bringing insight into physical processes in astrophysical objects, such formation stars. An important factor success these targetry. To date, targets have mainly relied on expensive and challenging microfabrication methods. The design presented incorporates replaceable machined parts that assemble structure defines...