The Weibel instability driven by temperature anisotropy is investigated in a two-dimensional (2D) particle-in-cell simulation in non-extensive statistics in the relativistic regime. In order to begin the simulation, we introduced a new 2D anisotropic distribution function in the context of non-extensive statistics. The heavy ions considered to be immobile and form the neutralizing background. The numerical results show that non-extensive parameter q plays an important role on the magnetic field saturation time, the time of reduction temperature anisotropy, evolution time to the quasi-stationary state, and the peak energy density of magnetic field. We observe that the instability saturation time increases by increasing the non-extensive parameter q. It is shown that structures with superthermal electrons (q < 1) could generate strong magnetic fields during plasma thermalization. The simulation results agree with the previous simulations for an anisotropic Maxwellian plasma (q = 1).

Efficient electron acceleration by a linearly chirped ultrashort laser pulse in vacuum is investigated using the particle swarm optimization method. By applying this method for optimizing the initial parameters of the laser pulse, a pronounced increase in final energy gain of the electron is obtained compared to that expected from the successive optimization method. Our results also suggest that the value of the optimal chirp parameter is independent of laser polarization and the energy gain could be insensitive to the sign of this parameter when the initial phase is optimally adjusted. In addition, utilizing the chirped laser pulse with optimized conditions for acceleration of an electron bunch reveals that the energy spectrum is shifted to considerably higher energies and the spatial distribution is significantly improved in a polarization-dependent manner.

Laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) is an important parameter used to describe the resistance of optical thin films to laser damage. The service life and cost of optical systems depend on the LIDT of the film. Thus, the precision with which the film's LIDT can be measured impacts how well the service life and cost of the system can be predicted. Therefore, it is important to find a precise approach to diagnose a film's laser-induced damage. In this paper, characteristics of the peak sound pressure of laser-induced plasma shock waves from thin films have been systematically investigated experimentally. We found that the peak sound pressure decays rapidly with propagation distance during air transmission. Based on a theoretical analysis of the relationship between the peak sound pressure and the laser damage to a film, we propose a method for diagnosing laser damage using the peak sound pressure of a thin film's shock wave. Our results show that this method can simplify implementation, which will provide a new method with which to diagnose laser damage to thin films.

A beam combination laser with stimulated Brillouin scattering-phase conjugate mirrors (SBS-PCMs), which is expected to produce a high output energy and power with a repetition rate over 10 Hz, is a candidate for a practically useful laser fusion driver in the future. In order to develop the beam combination laser with SBS-PCMs, it is necessary to control the phase of each SBS wave whose phases are known as inherently random. We have proposed a new phase control technique and demonstrated experimentally that the relative phase difference between two SBS waves can be controlled to a certain value and locked to it with an accuracy less than λ/4. Additionally we have proposed and demonstrated a new technique to preserve the pulse shape of the SBS wave. Based on these experimental results, we have proposed two schemes of the new schemes for the high repetition and high energy/power beam combination laser system (laser fusion driver) using the SBS-PCMs of amplitude division and wave-front division techniques, which can operate with repetition rate over 10 Hz, in this paper.

This paper suggests a novel route to approach the cold compression curve in laser-plasma induced shock waves. This effect is achieved with a precompression in a diamond anvil cell (DAC). In order to keep the necessary structure of one dimensional shock wave it is required to use a diamond anvil cell with a partially perforated diamond anvil. Precompression pressures of about 50 GPa, that are an order of magnitude higher than the currently reported pressures, are possible to obtain with presentley existing diamond anvil cell technology. The precompressed Hugoniot of Al was calculated for different precompression pressures and it was found that at precompression pressure of 50 GPa the Hugoniot follows the “cold curve” up to about 2 Mbar and 5.2 g/cc. Furthermore, the thermal relative contribution on the Hugoniot curves is calculated.

In the tape helix slow-wave system, discontinuous dielectrics have great effects on the dispersion characteristics. In this paper, the tape helix slow-wave system, including an inner and an outer metal shield, tape helix, nylon support, and de-ionized water as filling dielectric, was analyzed. Effects of dielectric discontinuity caused by the support dielectric and filling dielectric on the dispersion characteristics were studied in detail. The dispersion relations, phase velocities, slow-wave coefficients, and electric lengths of the spatial harmonics in the system were calculated. Results showed that, if the permittivity of support dielectric was smaller than that of the filling dielectric, frequencies of the spatial harmonics in the system rose, phase velocities and slow-wave coefficients increased, the slow-wave effect of the system was weakened so that the previous electric length was shortened. The reverse condition corresponded to the reverse results, and the electromagnetic simulation also proved it. By use of the helical pulse forming line of accelerator based on the studied tape helix slow-wave system, the electric lengths of the system were tested as 188.5 ns and 200 ns in experiments where the thicknesses of nylon support were 6 mm and 3 mm, respectively. The theoretical calculation results 198 ns and 211 ns basically corresponded to experimental results, which only had relative errors as 5 and 5.5%, respectively.

The influence of discrepancies between analytical expressions for charge changing cross section on the ionization state of swift heavy ions interacting with hot and dense plasmas is analyzed within the framework of our new average correlated hydrogenic atom model. Making use of our Classical Trajectory Monte-Carlo results, we show that the partial charge transfer cross section into the projectile atomic levels has the same importance as the total charge transfer cross section.

In this research, we presented the application of picosecond terawatt laser pulses for ultrahigh acceleration of plasma blocks for fast ignition of fusion. Ultrahigh acceleration of plasma blocks after irradiation of picosecond laser pulses of around terawatt power in the range of 1020 cm/s2 was discovered by Sauerbrey (1996) as measured by Doppler effect where the laser intensity was up to about 1018 W/cm2. This is several orders of magnitude higher than acceleration by irradiation based on thermal interaction of lasers has produced. This ultrahigh acceleration resulted from hydrodynamic computations at plane target interaction in 1978 at comparable conditions where the interaction was dominated by the nonlinear (generalized ponderomotive) forces where the laser energy was instantly converted into plasma motion in contrast to slow and delayed thermal collision processes. After clarifying this basic result, the application of the plasma blocks for side-on ignition of solid density or modestly compressed fusion fuel following the theory of Chu (1971) is updated in view of later discovered plasma properties and the ignition of deuterium tritium and of proton-11B appeared possible for a dozen of PW-PS laser pulses if an extremely high contrast ratio avoided relativistic self-focusing. A re-evaluation of more recent experiment confirms the acceleration by the nonlinear force, and the generation of the fusion flame with properties of Rankine-Hugoniot shocks is reported.

Development of a detonation wave due to α heating following short pulse laser irradiation in pre-compressed deuterium–tritium (DT) plasma is considered. The laser parameters required for development of a detonation wave are calculated. We find that a laser irradiance and energy of IL = 1.75 × 1023 W/cm2 and 12.8 kJ accordingly during 1.0 ps in a pre-compressed target at 900 g/cm3 creates an α heating fusion detonation wave. In this case, the nuclear fusion ignition conditions for the pre-compressed DT plasma are achieved along the detonation wave orbit.

Krypton Large Impulse Thruster (KLIMT) project was aimed at incremental development and optimization of a 0.5 kW-class plasma Hall Effect Thruster in which, as a propellant, krypton could be used. The final thermally stable version of the thruster (the third one) was tested in the Plasma Propulsion Satellites (PlaNS) laboratory in the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) in Warsaw as well as in the European Space Agency (ESA) propulsion laboratory in the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC).

During final measurement campaign, a wide spectrum of parameters was tested. The plasma potential, electron temperature, electron concentration, and electron energy probability function in the far-field plume of the thruster were measured with a single cylindrical Langmuir probe. Faraday probes were used for recording local values of ion current. Using several collectors in different locations and moving them on the surface of a sphere, the angular distribution of the expelled particles was reconstructed which was a local measure of beam divergence. Angular distribution of ion flux as measured with a central Faraday probe was parameterized with krypton mass flow rate, voltage, coil current ratio, and the cathode mass flow rate. Beam divergence measurements with Faraday probes as well as plasma parameters derived from Langmuir probe seem to be consistent with our understanding of the operating envelope. Obtained results will serve as a baseline in the design of plasma beam structure diagnostics system for the PlaNS laboratory.

The load current multiplier concept (LCM) was suggested for improving the energy transfer efficiency from pulse power generators to loads. The concept was initially demonstrated at atmospheric pressure and dielectric insulation on a compact, 100 kA, microsecond capacitor bank. This paper reports on the LCM design criteria for mega-ampere vacuum pulse power when the LCM comprises a large-inductance magnetic flux extruder cavity without a magnetic core. The analytical and numerical design approach presented was experimentally validated on GIT12 mega-ampere inductive energy storage generator with a constant-inductance load. The LCM technique increased the peak load current from typically 4.6 MA at 1.87 µs on this generator, to 6.43 MA at 2.0 µs. The electromagnetic power into a ~10 nH load increased from 100 GW to 230 GW. This result is in good agreement with the presented numerical simulations and it corresponds to a 95% increase of the achievable magnetic pressure at 8 cm radius in the load. The compact, LCM hardware allows the GIT12 generator to operate more efficiently without modifying the stored energy or architecture. The demonstrated load power and energy increase using the LCM concept is of importance for further studies on power amplification in vacuum and high energy density physics.

In this paper, the instability of electrostatic twisted modes carrying orbital angular momentum in the moving electron–positron–ion plasma is investigated. In the kinetic theory approach, the general dispersion relation of twisted modes is derived by using Laguerre–Gaussian perturbed distribution function and electrostatic potential in the paraxial limit. Utilizing the obtained general dispersion relation for a specific case of electron–positron (e–p) shell with temperature anisotropy interacted with moving ion background, the effects of angular mode number, electrons and positrons temperature, and positron concentration on the group velocity and instability growth rate of twisted waves are illustrated, numerically. The results of the present investigation will greatly attribute to the understanding of e–p jet dynamic in astrophysical environments and laboratory experiments where the twisted modes can play a central role as a perturbed term.

Correlated stopping of N ion debris flowing at same velocity in a lithium target is worked out from the Basbas-Ritchie model of 2-cluster stopping in degenerate electron jellium. A very large energy loss enhancement is demonstrated. It is strongly modulated by the ions' topological arrangement. Relevance to inertial fusion driven by intense cluster ion beam is stressed.

The design for an advanced, flash-lamp-pumped Nd: glass laser for inertial confinement fusion (ICF) research and applications is summarized. The laser consists of multiple beam lines, each of which delivers 145-kJ, O.35-μm, 8-ns laser pulses, with pulse shape and bandwidth capabilities consistent with requirements for driving ICF capsules to high gain.

Due to an error, the published version of the paper differed from the final version submitted by the authors. The section starting at page 271 with “The beams are well collimated …” and finishing at the end of the page, and the caption for figure 4 were to be replaced with an updated version, submitted on 20 May 2002, which follows underneath.

In the interaction of short-laser pulses with a solid density target, pre-plasma can play a major role in ion acceleration processes. So far, complete analysis of pre-plasma effect on the ion acceleration by ultra-short laser pulses in the radiation pressure acceleration (RPA) regime has been unknown. Then the effect of pre-plasma on the ion acceleration efficiency is analyzed by numerical results of the particle-in-cell simulation in the RPA regime. It is shown that, for long-laser pulses (τp > 50 fs), the presence of pre-plasma makes a destructive effect on ion acceleration while it may have a contributing effect for short-laser pulses (τp < 50 fs). Therefore, the 35 fs (20 fs) laser pulse can accelerate ions up to 40 MeV (55 eV), which is almost two (three) times larger in energy rather than use of a 100 fs pulse with the same pre-plasma scale length.

In the paper, relativistic self-focusing in the interaction of laser beam and plasma with periodical density ripple has been studied by the applied WKB approximation and higher-order paraxial theory. The result shows that under the influence of relativistic nonlinear effect, the dielectric function shows the fierce oscillational variation with similar periodicity, which then leads to the intense relativistic beam self-focusing along the propagation distance, such self-focusing also presents similar periodic variation. Besides, in the plasma with periodical density ripple, the initial density and the density ripple amplitude have obvious influence on self-focusing. When the two factors increase, then there will be more strength self-focusing. Choosing the appropriate initial density and the periodic density parameter is benefit to the formation of the more stable self-focusing.

When a one-shell three-layer cryogenic target is irradiated by a driver beam of total energy 10 MJ and pulse width 30 ns, the pusher pressure increases to 1013 Pa, accelerating fuel toward target center, and the fuel implosion velocity reaches 3 × 105 m/s. A spherical hollow target plays the role of a supersonic converging nozzle, and the fuel is compressed to 269 times the solid density in the supersonic region and to 3·51 × 104 times in subsonic region. Nonuniform beam-energy-deposition in pusher layer causes nonuniform pusher pressure and hence nonuniform implosion, which reduces fuel compression significantly. The smoothing of pusher pressure by radiative energy transfer, or gas-filled target instead of cryogenic hollow target can be used to reduce the defect of nonuniform implosion. At last, the structure of an indirect driven target is proposed to smooth out pusher pressure in spite of nonuniform beam irradiation.

Nanostructuring can be either spontaneously appearing (such as laser-induced periodic surface structures, and diffraction patterns – for example, in windows of grid proximity-standing at the ablated target-surface) or artificially created (like – as we hoped – interference patterns) that can be in some extend controlled. Due to that a new interferometer (belonging to wave-front division category) with two aspheric mirrors has been developed. Each of these mirrors reflects approximately one half of incoming laser beam and focuses it into a point image. Both focused beams have to intersect each other, and in the intersection region an interference pattern was expected. However, the first tests showed that some other spontaneously appearing interference pattern with substantially larger fringe-pitch is generated. The origin of this idle interference pattern is discussed.

It has been recently suggested (Hora & Miley 1984) that in the cannonball scheme of laser compression the pellet may be considered to be compressed by the ‘brute force’ of the radiation pressure. For such a radiation-driven compression, this paper applies an energy balance method to give an equation fixing the radius compression ratio κ which is a key parameter for such intense compressions. A shock model is used to yield specific results. For a square-pulse driving power compressing a spherical pellet with a specific heat ratio of 5/3, a density compression ratio Γ of 27 is computed. Double (stepped) pulsing with linearly rising power enhances Γ to 1750. The value of Γ is not dependent on the absolute magnitude of the piston power, as long as this is large enough. Further enhancement of compression by multiple (stepped) pulsing becomes obvious. The enhanced compression increases the energy gain factor G for a 100 μm DT pellet driven by radiation power of 1016 W from 6 for a square pulse power with 0·5 MJ absorbed energy to 90 for a double (stepped) linearly rising pulse with absorbed energy of 0·4 MJ assuming perfect coupling efficiency.