Collimated proton beams from laser interaction with a slab having a hole on its backside are investigated using particle-in-cell simulation. The hot target electrons driven by the laser expand rapidly into the hole. However, at the hole's corners the electrons are strongly compressed and an intense electron jet is emitted from each corner, tightly followed by the ions. The plasma jets focus and collimate along the axis of the hole and can propagate without divergence within the hole. The effect of the hole diameter on the collimated proton beam is considered.

Two basic ways to amplification of spontaneous emission in the soft X-ray region are described. The first is based on the electron-collisional recombination pumping scheme, which uses recombination of fully stripped ions into hydrogen-like ions to create (in the case of sufficiently fast cooling) a population inversion on energy levels belonging to the Balmer-alpha transition. We test this scheme on nitrogen, for which the lasing wavelength is 13.4 nm. The second way to amplification of spontaneous emission is based on the electron-collisional excitation pumping scheme: this uses for creation of population inversion a fast excitation of Ne- or Ni-like ions. However, for wavelength below 15 nm it is necessary to use Ni-like ions of some metal vapors. Feeding metal vapors into a capillary is difficult, and if being fed they deposit on the capillary wall and significantly reduce the capillary lifetime. That is why we prepare metal vapor plasma in a capillary with liquid wall – by wire explosion in water. For slowdown of the plasma-channel expansion a local-water-compression by linearly focused shock wave is being developed.

Collision times in plasmas are usually defined in connection with the time evolution of the ensemble-averaged scattering angle . Extrapolating the short-time behaviour ϑshort(t), one obtains the collision time tc by setting ϑshort(tc) = π/2. We have shown with the help of computer simulations that this procedure is ambiguous, as we can clearly distinguish three regimes for ϑ(t). There is always an initial ballistic regime with ϑ(t) ∝ t with dominant pairwise interactions. This lasts up to times α/υth where α is the mean distance between the particles and υth their mean velocity. This is followed by a diffusive regime with ϑ(t) ∝ t½, which is characterized by many small-angle scattering events. Eventually, this diffusion will lead to a uniform distribution of the directions of the velocity. So ϑ(t) will saturate towards π/2 in a third asymptotic regime. For large plasma parameters Γ ≫ 1, this asymptotic behaviour will be modulated by a damped oscillation of ϑ(t) with the plasma frequency. For such strongly coupled plasmas the diffusive regime is suppressed and one observes a direct transition from the initial ballistic to the asymptotic collective regime characterized by the plasma oscillation. Parameters such as the diffusion constant and the transition times are estimated with the help of analytical models.

This paper presents three–dimensional numerical simulations of thermodynamic and hydrodynamic response of a wheel shaped solid graphite production target for the super conducting fragment separator (Super–FRS) that is irradiated with a fast extracted high intensity uranium beam. These fragment separator experiments will be carried out at the future Facility for Antiprotons and Ion Research (FAIR), at Darmstadt. Previously, we reported simulation results that were carried out using two–dimensional computer codes which showed that one can use a solid graphite target for the Super-FRS for the highest intensity (5 × 1011 ions per spill) of the fast extracted uranium beam. Present results, however, have shown that due to three–dimensional effects the maximum intensity that can be used with such a target is 3 × 1011 ions per spill. A detailed comparison between two–dimensional and three–dimensional results is presented in this paper.

1½ D computer simulations have been performed to illustrate the influence of ion dynamics on stimulated Raman scattering in laser irradiated plasmas. A flat density profile has been used. Backward and forward scatter and heated electron distribution have been studied as a function of ion mass and ion temperature. The results show clearly that the lighter the ions, the more inhibited the Raman scatter and associated fast electron production. Futhermore, when ions are cold enough to allow Brillouin scattering release, Raman scatter, as well as associated suprathermal electrons is even more reduced. These observations evidence the complex non-linear coupling of the electron plasma waves driven by the Raman instability and the ion fluctuations which can exist in the plasma.

The parameters of X-ray radiation and runaway electron beams (RAEBs) generated at long-pulse discharges in atmospheric-pressure air were investigated. In the experiments, high-voltage pulses with the rise times of 500 and 50 ns were applied to an interelectrode gap. The gap geometry provided non-uniform distribution of the electric field strength. It was founded that at the voltage pulse rise time of 500 ns and the maximum breakdown voltage Um for 1 cm-length gap, a duration [full width at half maximum (FWHM)] of a RAEB current pulse shrinks to 0.1 ns. A decrease in the breakdown voltage under conditions of a diffuse discharge leads to an increase in the FWHM duration of the electron beam current pulse up to several nanoseconds. It was shown that when the rise time of the voltage pulse is of 500 ns and the diffuse discharge occurs in the gap, the FWHM duration of the X-ray radiation pulse can reach ≈100 ns. It was established that at a pulse-periodic diffuse discharge fed by high-voltage pulses with the rise time of 50 ns, an energy of X-ray quanta and their number increase with increasing breakdown voltage. Wherein the parameter Um/pd is saved.

Laser-Compton scattering (LCS) experiments were carried out at the Idaho Accelerator Center (ICA) using the 5 ns (FWHM) and 22 MeV electron beam. The electron beam was brought to an approximate head-on collision with a 7 ns (FWHM), 10 Hz, 29 MW peak power Nd:YAG laser. We observed clear and narrow X-ray peaks resulting from the interaction of relativistic electrons with the 532 nm Nd:YAG laser second harmonic line on top of a very low bremsstrahlung background. We have developed a method of using LCS as a non-intercepting electron beam monitor. Unlike the method used by Leemans et al. (1996), our method focused on the variation of the shape of the LCS spectrum rather than the LCS intensity as a function of the observation angle in order to extract the electron beam parameters at the interaction region. The electron beam parameters were determined by making simultaneous fits to spectra taken across the LCS X-ray cone. We also used the variation of LCS X-ray peak energy and spectral width as a function of the detector angles to determine the electron beam angular spread, and direction and compared the results to the previous method. Experimental data show that in addition to being viewed as potential bright, tunable and monochromatic X-ray source, LCS can provide important information on electron beam pulse length, direction, energy, angular, and energy spread. Since the quality of LCS X-ray peaks, such as degree of monochromaticity, peak energy and flux, depends strongly on the electron beam parameters, LCS can therefore be viewed as an important non-destructive means for electron beam diagnostics.

It is shown that various spectroscopic methods based on measurements of X-ray spectra radiated from cluster targets can be used for estimation of the destruction degree of clusters by laser prepulses. These methods allow insight to be gained regarding the important issue of preservation of the dense cluster core at the moment of the arrival of the main laser pulse. In addition, they can be used for quantitative estimation of the size of the undestroyed parts of the clusters and also for measuring the temperature and density of the preplasmas produced by the laser prepulses.

The wakefield acceleration driven by a single laser pulse in a narrow plasma-filled solid waveguide is considered. Parameters of the waveguide which provide the maximum energy gain of accelerated particles at a given length and peak power of the driver are found in the approximation of a relativistically weak driver. The obtained formulas are illustrated by calculating the electron energy gain achievable with the terawatt laser of Utsunomiya University.

In this paper we report on an experimental study of high harmonic radiation generated in nanometer-scale foil targets irradiated under normal incidence. The experiments constitute the first unambiguous observation of odd-numbered relativistic harmonics generated by the v × B component of the Lorentz force verifying a long predicted property of solid target harmonics. Simultaneously the observed harmonic spectra allow in-situ extraction of the target density in an experimental scenario which is of utmost interest for applications such as ion acceleration by the radiation pressure of an ultraintense laser.

This paper presents comprehensive experimental results of angular distributions of ions emitted from laser-produced plasmas. Performing a series of laser shots onto planar Sn, Au, and Pb targets, both the focusing conditions as well as the tilt angle of the target were changed to study the effect on the plasma expansion. In the experiments, the iodine laser system PERUN (laser energy of 30 J in 350 ps of duration) with laser power density of 5 × 1014 W/cm2 was used. For plasma diagnostics four ion collectors and an ion-energy analyzer were applied. Comparison of angular distribution of the fast ion group (velocity within the range of 1–3.4 × 108 cm/s) and of the slow ion group (velocity within the range of 0.14–1 × 108 cm/s) shows distinct differences. The preferred direction of ion emission of these groups depends seriously on focusing conditions. When setting the focus on the in-focus position both groups of ions are peaked in the direction close to the target normal. The maximum charge of ions registered by the ion-energy analyzer were 36+, 51+, and 49+ for Sn, Au, and Pb, respectively.

We have focused our attention on the stopping mechanisms involved in the recently proposed ion beam-target US program. This mechanism emphasizes out production of warm dense matter through pulsed ion beams, linearly accelerated, and interacting with thin foils in Bragg peak conditions. We reviewed the relevant energy loss mechanisms involved at moderate and low velocity ion projectile. Small velocities close to zero are given some attention.

Experiments of the return current post installed X-pinches were carried out on the 1-MA “QiangGuang-1” facility with the purpose of understanding X-pinch characteristics under this setup and establishing X-pinch backlighting diagnostics for the wire-array Z-pinches. Different wire-array loads along with the two-wire 30 µm Mo X-pinch backlighter were tested. The X-pinches emit the X-ray radiation with the burst time variation of ± 4 ns and the bright spot size of  ~30 µm. X-ray backlighting shadowgraphy images of the over-mass and radiation-suppressed Z-pinch wire array were obtained.

Analytic analysis of collisionless Weibel modes in laser-created plasmas is presented. The heat flux (HF), the plasma expansion (PE), and the inverse bremsstrahlung absorption (IBA) sources have been investigated. It has been shown that for short laser wavelengths (λL < 1 µm) and high laser fluxes (I > 1014 W/cm2), the inverse bremsstrahlung absorption is the most efficient Weibel mechanism for producing strong magnetic fields in the vicinity of the critical layer. For large laser wavelengths (λL < 10 µm), the production of the magnetic fields in the vicinity of the critical layer, due to the plasma expansion mechanism, is as important as the ones due to the thermal transport and the inverse bremsstrahlung absorption mechanisms. Useful scaling laws of convective e-foldings, with respect to the laser and the plasma parameters, are also derived.

In this work is accomplished the determination of the corona, local and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium regimes for optically thin carbon plasmas in steady state, in terms of the plasma density and temperature using the ABAKO code. The determination is made through the analysis of the plasma average ionization and ion and level populations. The results are compared whit those obtained applying Griem's criterion. Finally, it is made a brief analysis of the effects of the calculation of level populations assuming different plasma regimes in radiative properties, such as emissivities and opacities.

The effects of laser incidence angle on lateral fast electron transport at front target surface, when a plasma is preformed, irradiated by intense (>1018 W/cm2) laser pulses, are studied by Kα imaging technique and electron spectrometer. A horizontally asymmetric Kα halo, resulting from directional lateral electron transport and energy deposition, is observed for a large incidence angle (70°). Moreover, a group of MeV high energy electrons is emitted along target surface. It is believed that the deformed preplasma and the asymmetrical distribution of self-generated magnetic field, at large incidence angle, play an important role in the directional lateral electron transport.

This article presents two types of a hollow-cathode plasma source based on an arc discharge where the electrons emitted either by a hot filament or by a surface-discharge-based trigger system initiate a gas arc discharge. The sources produce gas plasmas of densities 1010–1012 cm−3 in large volumes of up to 0.5 m3 at a discharge current of 100–200 A and at a pressure of 10−1–10−2 Pa. Consideration is given to some peculiarities of the operation of the plasma sources with various working gases (Ar, N2, O2). The erosion rate of the cold hollow cathode in the designed plasma sources is shown to be 10 times lower than that found in an ordinary one. The sources are employed for plasma-assisted surface modification of solids.

The model of evaporation, motion and compression of shell laser targets in low-entropy regime is considered. The evaporation rate and accelerating pressure in spherical targets are determined in the stationary corona model. The scaling relation are obtained which make it possible to correlate laser pulse and target parameters and optimize target compression and heating for various values of laser pulse wavelengths and energy. The results of this model are compared with numerical calculation of hydrodynamic and thermal conductivity equations.

In addition to the matured “laser inertial fusion energy” with spherical compression and thermal ignition of deuterium-tritium (DT), a very new alternative for the fast ignition scheme may have now been opened by using side-on block ignition aiming beyond the DT-fusion with igniting the neutron-free reaction of proton-boron-11 (p-11B). Measurements with laser pulses of terawatt power and ps duration led to the discovery of an anomaly of interaction, if the prepulses are cut off by a factor 108 (contrast ratio) to avoid relativistic self focusing in agreement with preceding computations. Applying this to petawatt (PW) pulses for Bobin-Chu conditions of side-on ignition of solid fusion fuel results after several improvements in energy gains of 10,000. This is in contrast to the impossible laser-ignition of p-11B by the usual spherical compression and thermal ignition. The side-on ignition is less than ten times only more difficult than for DT ignition. This is essentially based on the instant and direct conversion the optical laser energy by the nonlinear force into extremely high plasma acceleration. Genuine two-fluid hydrodynamic computations for DT are presented showing details how ps laser pulses generate a fusion flame in solid state density with an increase of the density in the thin flame region. Densities four times higher are produced automatically confirming a Rankine-Hugoniot shock wave process with an increasing thickness of the shock up to the nanosecond range and a shock velocity of 1500 km/s which is characteristic for these reactions.

A theoretical formalism is developed to obtain the mode structure of right circularly polarized nonlinear laser Eigen mode in a self created plasma channel in the presence of an axial magnetic field. The nonlinearity in electron response arises due to relativistic mass effect and ponderomotive force induced density redistribution. The Eigen mode is seen to be unstable to stimulated Raman backscattering involving an electrostatic quasi-mode and a scattered electromagnetic wave. The growth rate increases with ambient magnetic field.