Conversion Efficiency Of Laser Energy Research Articles

Intense mid-infrared laser pulse generated via flying-mirror red-shifting in near-critical-density plasmas

Abstract Relativistic femtosecond mid-infrared pulses can be generated efficiently by laser interaction with near-critical-density plasmas. It is found theoretically and numerically that the radiation pressure of a circularly polarized laser pulse first compresses the plasma electrons to form a dense flying mirror with a relativistic high speed. The pulse reflected by the mirror is red-shifted to the mid-infrared range. Full three-dimensional simulations demonstrate that the central wavelength of the mid-infrared pulse is tunable from 3 $\rm{\mu m}$ to 14 $\rm{\mu m}$ and the laser energy conversion efficiency can reach as high as 13%. With a 0.5-10 PW incident laser pulse, the generated mid-infrared pulse reaches a peak power of 10-180 TW, which could be interesting for various applications in ultrafast and high-field sciences.

Optimized plasma waveguides for single-stage bubble acceleration of monoenergetic electron beams with enhanced quality

The laser wakefield acceleration in bubble regime is now a promising method for producing high-quality electron beams, which is crucial to the development of the next-generation compact and low-cost particle accelerators. In this paper, we demonstrate the possibility of controlling particle injection and electron beam quality in sub-petawatt laser pulse interaction with simple plasma waveguides with a radially step-like density profile. Fully relativistic particle-in-cell calculations for different laser intensities indicate that by considering a sufficiently low electron density for a central plasma channel to ensure both increased acceleration length and formation of a well-structured bubble, one can optimize the surrounding plasma density and central channel diameter to reach the best injection conditions and produce a high-quality monoenergetic electron beam with improved peak energy and reduced energy spread. Calculations are performed for 33 fs, 140–315 TW laser pulses interacting with a ∼2 cm long plasma waveguide. It is demonstrated that by using the proposed scheme in optimized conditions, monoenergetic electron beams with peak energies 3–4 GeV and energy spreads less than 1.5% can be obtained in a single acceleration length of 1.85 cm. The beam charge and conversion efficiency of laser energy into the beam energy were also enhanced to values around 195 pC and 14.7%, respectively.

Intense widely controlled terahertz radiation from laser-driven wires

Irradiation of a thin metallic wire with an intense femtosecond laser pulse creates a strong discharge wave that travels as a narrow pulse along the wire surface. This traveling discharge efficiently emits secondary radiation with spectral characteristics that are mostly defined by the wire geometry. Several examples of designs are considered here in the context of generation of intense terahertz radiation with controllable characteristics for various scientific and technological applications. The proposed setup may be easily realized, and it has the merits of robustness, versatility, and high conversion efficiency (reaching several percent) of laser energy to terahertz radiation.

Modeling of a Liquid Leaf Target TNSA Experiment Using Particle-In-Cell Simulations and Deep Learning

Liquid leaf targets show promise as high repetition rate targets for laser-based ion acceleration using the Target Normal Sheath Acceleration (TNSA) mechanism and are currently under development. In this work, we discuss the effects of different ion species and investigate how they can be leveraged for use as a possible laser-driven neutron source. To aid in this research, we develop a surrogate model for liquid leaf target laser-ion acceleration experiments, based on artificial neural networks. The model is trained using data from Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations. The fast inference speed of our deep learning model allows us to optimize experimental parameters for maximum ion energy and laser-energy conversion efficiency. An analysis of parameter influence on our model output, using Sobol’ and PAWN indices, provides deeper insights into the laser-plasma system.

Cyclic RGD functionalized PLGA nanoparticles loaded with noncovalent complex of indocyanine green with urokinase for synergistic thrombolysis.

Thrombotic diseases have the characteristics of long latency period, rapid onset, and high mortality rate, which seriously threaten people’s life and health. The aim of this research is to fabricate a novel indocyanine green complex of urokinase (ICG@uPA) and employ the amphiphilic PEG-PLGA polymer to deliver the complex as an enzyme-phototherapeutic synergistic thrombolysis platform. The noncovalent indocyanine green (ICG) complex of urokinase (ICG@uPA) was prepared via supramolecular self-assembly and then encapsulated into cRGD decorated polymeric nanoparticles (cRGD-ICG-uPA NPs) by double-emulsion solvent evaporation method. Then the nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized in terms of particle size, optical properties, in vitro release, etc. The targeting and thrombolytic effect of the nanoparticles were studied both in vitro and in vivo. ICG@uPA and cRGD-ICG-uPA NPs displayed significantly higher photostability and laser energy conversion efficiency than free ICG. Concomitantly, the NPs exhibited selective binding affinity to the activated platelets and specific accumulation in the mouse mesenteric vessel thrombus. Significant thrombolysis was achieved in vivo by photo-assisted synergistic therapy with reduced dose and systemic bleeding risk of uPA. Our results prove that the functional PLGA nanoparticle loaded with the ICG@uPA offers a novel option for effective and safe thrombolytic treatment.

Theoretical study of soft X-ray emission and dynamics of laser-induced plasma of double stream gas puff

The double stream gas puff-based laser-produced plasma is studied as a source of soft X-ray radiation in nm wavelength spectral range. Dynamics of plasma induced by Nd:YAG laser beam and its emission is simulated with radiation-magnetohydrodynamic code Zstar. The modeling results for krypton gas stream in an annular helium jet as a circumferential gas for various picosecond and nanosecond laser pulses corresponding to the experiments are presented. The spatial–spectral features and temporal behavior of the soft X-ray and EUV emission are investigated. Under ps pulse, the gas is rapidly ionized in the laser beam channel, but it does not have enough time to shift sensibly during the pulse, and the plasma electron density grows against the background of almost constant ion density during the ionization in the laser radiation field. There is ionization instability only capable to be developed in ps range. At ns pulse, the gas ionization and heating leads to gas pushing out of the channel, and the formation of a divergent compression wave transforming into the shock wave. Behind the compression wave front, conditions arise for the development of Rayleigh–Taylor-type instability. The instability leads to the redistribution of plasma temperature and density, and to the formation of increased soft X-ray emission spots. Time evolution of spatial distributions and spectral characteristics of emitted SXR radiation is analyzed for different laser pulses. Transient effects in multicharged ion plasma are discussed, fundamental understanding of those is required for optimization of plasma radiation source. A conversion efficiency of laser energy into soft X-ray wavebands from krypton plasma is scanned by laser parameters and analyzed.

Enhancing positron production using front surface target structures

We report a target design which produced a substantial gain in relativistic electron-positron pair production using high-intensity lasers and targets with large-scale micro-structures on their surface. Comparing to an unstructured target, a selected Si microwire array target yielded a near 100% increase in the laser-to-positron conversion efficiency and produced a 10 MeV increase in the average emitted positron energy under nominally the same experimental conditions. We had established a multi-scale particle-in-cell simulation scheme to simulate both the laser absorption and the subsequent pair productions in a thick metal target. The experimental results are supported by the simulations demonstrating the performance increase is due to a higher conversion efficiency of laser energy into electrons with kinetic energies greater than 10 MeV due to enhanced direct laser acceleration of electrons enabled by the microwire array.

High-current laser-driven beams of relativistic electrons for high energy density research

We report on enhanced laser driven electron beam generation in the multi MeV energy range that promises a tremendous increase of the diagnostic potential of high energy sub-PW and PW-class laser systems. In the experiment, an intense sub-picosecond laser pulse of ∼1019 Wcm−2 intensity propagates through a plasma of near critical electron density (NCD) and drives the direct laser acceleration (DLA) of plasma electrons. Low-density polymer foams were used for the production of hydrodynamically stable long-scale NCD-plasmas. Measurements show that relativistic electrons generated in the DLA-process propagate within a half angle of 2 ± 1° to the laser axis. Inside this divergence cone, an effective electron temperature of 10–13 MeV and a maximum of the electron energy of 100 MeV were reached. The high laser energy conversion efficiency into electrons with energies above 2 MeV achieved 23% with a total charge approaching 1 μC. For application purposes, we used the nuclear activation method to characterize the MeV bremsstrahlung spectrum produced in the interaction of the high-current relativistic electrons with high-Z samples and measured top yields of gamma-driven nuclear reactions. The optimization of the high-Z target geometry predicts an ultra-high MeV photon number of ∼1012 per shot at moderate relativistic laser intensity of 1019 Wcm−2. A good agreement between the experimental data and the results of the 3D-PIC and GEANT4-simulations was demonstrated.

Observation of MeV-energy ions from the interaction of over picosecond laser pulses with near-critical density foam targets

In order to enhance the conversion efficiency of ultra-intense laser energy into plasma leading to ion acceleration, we have performed an experiment with over-picosecond laser pulses having a relativistic intensity interacting with foam targets. We adjust the prepulse of the laser to control the plasma density near the critical density. The combination of hydrodynamic and particle-in-cell simulations suggest that the region of high energy density is induced in the near-critical plasma, leading to enhance the proton energy up to 23 MeV with the laser intensity of 6 × 1018 W/cm2.

Enhanced laser-driven hadron sources with nanostructured double-layer targets

Laser-driven ion sources are approaching the requirements for several applications in materials and nuclear science. Relying on compact, table-top, femtosecond laser systems is pivotal to enable most of these applications. However, the moderate intensity of these systems (I ≲ 1019 W cm−2) could lead to insufficient energy and total charge of the accelerated ions. The use of solid foils coated with a nanostructured near-critical layer is emerging as a promising targeted solution to enhance the energy and the total charge of the accelerated ions. For an appropriate theoretical understanding of this acceleration scheme, a realistic description of the nanostructure is essential, also to precisely assess its role in the physical processes at play. Here, by means of 3D particle-in-cell simulations, we investigate ion acceleration in this scenario, assessing the role of different realistic nanostructure morphologies, such as fractal-like foams and nanowire forests. With respect to a simple flat foil, the presence of a nanostructure allows for up to a × 3 increase of the maximum ion energy and for a significant increase of the conversion efficiency of laser energy into ion kinetic energy. Simulations show also that the details of the nanostructure morphology affect both the maximum energy of the ions and their angular distribution. Furthermore, combined 3D particle-in-cell and Monte Carlo simulations show that if accelerated ions are used for neutron generation with a beryllium converter, double-layer nanostructured targets allow to greatly enhance the neutron yield. These results suggest that nanostructured double-layer targets could be an essential component to enable applications of hadron sources driven by compact, table-top lasers.

Enhancing laser beam performance by interfering intense laser beamlets

Increasing the laser energy absorption into energetic particle beams represents a longstanding quest in intense laser-plasma physics. During the interaction with matter, part of the laser energy is converted into relativistic electron beams, which are the origin of secondary sources of energetic ions, γ-rays and neutrons. Here we experimentally demonstrate that using multiple coherent laser beamlets spatially and temporally overlapped, thus producing an interference pattern in the laser focus, significantly improves the laser energy conversion efficiency into hot electrons, compared to one beam with the same energy and nominal intensity as the four beamlets combined. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations support the experimental results, suggesting that beamlet interference pattern induces a periodical shaping of the critical density, ultimately playing a key-role in enhancing the laser-to-electron energy conversion efficiency. This method is rather insensitive to laser pulse contrast and duration, making this approach robust and suitable to many existing facilities.

Optimization of high energy x ray production through laser plasma interaction

A standard technique for generating a burst of hard x rays (above 30 keV) is to use ultra high intensity lasers incident on a target. The strong laser field causes rapid electron oscillations which then generate hard x rays via bremsstrahlung. We have demonstrated a new technique for optimizing the conversion efficiency of laser light to hard x rays at moderate Iλ2 (mid 1013 W/cm2.µm2) assuming that the two plasmon decay plasma instability is the predominant acceleration mechanism. In this scheme, electrons are not directly accelerated by the laser field but by electron plasma waves. Experiments at the National Ignition Facility show the effect of a pre-pulse on the hard x ray spectrum and conversion efficiency. Different experimental configurations are investigated to optimize the conversion efficiency using various pre-pulse levels as well as different target designs (gold vs. silver, varying target thickness, presence of an ablator layer of CH). The conversion efficiency of laser energy into photon above 30 keV for a 100 ps short pulse scales as ∼ I1.23 for laser intensity ranging from 1 × 1016 to 1 × 1017 W/cm2 at 3ω for high Z target. A 1-ns-long pre-pulse pre-seeding an 88-ps Gaussian laser pulse coupled with a CH-coated thin Au target led the highest conversion efficiency above 30 keV of ∼ 3×10−4.

Collimated GeV attosecond electron–positron bunches from a plasma channel driven by 10 PW lasers

High-energy positrons and bright γ-ray sources are of great importance both in fundamental research and for practical applications. However, collimated GeV electron–positron pair jets and γ-ray flashes are still rarely produced in the laboratory. Here, we demonstrate that by irradiating a near-critical-density plasma channel with two 10 PW-scale laser pulses, highly directional GeV electron–positron pairs and bright γ-ray beams can be efficiently generated. Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show the formation of GeV positron jets with high density (8×1021/ cm3), attosecond duration (400 as), and a divergence angle of 14°. Additionally, ultrabright [2×1025 photons s−1 mm−2 mrad−2 (0.1% bandwidth)−1] collimated attosecond (370 as) γ-ray flashes with a laser energy conversion efficiency of 5.6% are emitted. These features show the significant advantage of using a plasma channel as compared with a uniform plasma and thus open up new possibilities for a wide variety of applications.

Conversion efficiency of a laser-plasma source based on a Xe jet in the vicinity of a wavelength of 11 nm

We optimized the parameters of a laser-produced plasma source based on a solid-state Nd: YAG laser (λ = 1.06 nm, pulse duration 4 ns, energy per pulse up to 500 mJ, repetition rate 10 Hz, lens focus distance 45 mm, maximum power density of laser radiation in focus 9 × 1011 W/cm2) and a double-stream Xe/He gas jet to obtain a maximum of radiation intensity around 11 nm wavelength. It was shown that the key factor determining the ionization composition of the plasma is the jet density. With the decreased density, the ionization composition shifts toward a smaller degree of ionization, which leads to an increase in emission peak intensity around 11 nm. We attribute the dominant spectral feature centred near 11 nm originating from an unidentified 4d-4f transition array in Xe+10…+13 ions. The exact position of the peak and the bandwidth of the emission line were determined. We measured the dependence of the conversion efficiency of laser energy into an EUV in-band energy with a peak at 10.82 nm from the xenon pressure and the distance between the nozzle and the laser focus. The maximum conversion efficiency (CE) into the spectral band of 10–12 nm measured at a distance between the nozzle and the laser beam focus of 0.5 mm was CE = 4.25 ± 0.30%. The conversion efficiencies of the source in-bands of 5 and 12 mirror systems at two wavelengths of 10.8 and 11.2 nm have been evaluated; these efficiencies may be interesting for beyond extreme ultraviolet lithography.

Fabrication of Multifoliate PtRu Bimetallic Nanocomplexes for Computed Tomography Imaging and Enhanced Synergistic Thermoradiotherapy.

To improve the efficiency of cancer therapy, we developed multifoliate PEGylated PtRu bimetallic nanocomplexes (PtRu-PEG BNCs) as multifunctional theranostic nanoagents for computed tomography (CT) imaging and synergistic thermoradiotherapy. The synthesized PtRu-PEG BNCs with uniform size and morphology exhibit excellent stability, notable photothermal effect, and good biocompatibility. As compared with other platinum nanomaterials, the PtRu-PEG BNCs are able to absorb near-infrared laser energy and present excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (44.5%). Multifoliate PtRu-PEG BNCs can be applied to CT imaging and radiotherapy (RT) because of the presence of platinum. Unlike a single therapy method, the integration of photothermal therapy with RT can effectively induce cell apoptosis and generate an obvious synergistic effect. Hence, the as-prepared nanocomplexes can be used as multifunctional theranostic nanoagents.

X-rays diagnostics of the hot electron energy distribution in the intense laser interaction with metal targets

A two-temperature hot electron energy distribution has been revealed by modeling of bremsstrahlung emission, measured by the radiation attenuation and half-shade methods, and Kα emission from a massive silver cylinder irradiated by a subpicosecond s-polarized laser pulse with a peak intensity of about 2 × 1019 W/cm2. To deduce parameters of the hot electron spectrum, we have developed semi-analytical models of generation and measurements of the x-rays. The models are based on analytical expressions and tabulated data on electron stopping power as well as cross-sections of generation and absorption of the x-rays. The Kα emission from thin silver foils deposited on low-Z substrates, both conducting and nonconducting, has been used to verify the developed models and obtained hot electron spectrum. The obtained temperatures of the colder and hotter electron components are in agreement with the values predicted by kinetic simulations of the cone-guided approach to fast ignition [Chrisman et al., Phys. Plasmas 15, 056309 (2008)]. The temperature of the low-energy component of the accelerated electron spectrum is well below the ponderomotive scaling and Beg's law. We have obtained relatively low conversion efficiency of laser energy into the energy of hot electrons propagating through the solid target of about 2%. It is demonstrated that the assumption about a single-temperature hot electron energy distribution with the slope temperature described by the ponderomotive scaling relationship, without detailed analysis of the hot electron spectrum, can lead to strong overestimation of the laser-to-electron energy-conversion efficiency, in particular, the conversion efficiency of laser energy into the high-temperature component of the hot electron distribution.

Picosecond laser-driven proton acceleration study of SGⅡ-U device based on charged particle activation method

The laser-driven proton acceleration experiment is carried out on the SGⅡ-U device based on charged particle activation method, and the target parameters are optimized. The charged particle method is used to measure the maximum cutoff energy of proton, angular profile, total yield and conversion efficiency of laser energy to proton energy for different copper film thickness under the same laser condition. It is found that the optimal copper film thickness for the SGⅡ-U picoseond laser-driven proton experiment is 10 μm, the highest proton energy obtained is about 40 MeV, and the total yield of protons (>4 MeV) is about 4×1012, the conversion efficiency of laser energy to proton energy is about 2%. Thicker or thinner copper film can reduce the maximum cut-off energy of accelerated proton; when the target thickness is reduced to 1 μm, the pre-pulse of the laser begins to have a significant effect on the target normal sheath acceleration (TNSA) proton, proton energy drops sharply, the proton beam porfile exhibits a hollow structure; when the target thickness is increased to 35 μm, although the energy of the proton is reduced, the proton beam spot is more uniform. According to our experimental results, when using SGⅡ-U picosecond laser to generate protons as a backlight diagnostics, a thicker Cu film can be selected which can supply more uniform proton beams. When the target is too thin, the TNSA proton itself has a modulation structure which will cause interference to yield the photographic results; when the protons generated by the SGⅡ-U picosecond are used to generate neutron source, the higher proton energy and yield are required, and 10 μm Cu film is suitable. The further enhancing the TNSA accelerated proton energy and quantity of the SGⅡ-U picosecond laser requires the further improving of the laser contrast.

The effect of positively chirped laser pulse on energy enhancement of proton acceleration in combinational radiation pressure and bubble regime

Proton energy enhancement in a combinational radiation pressure and bubble regime by applying a positively chirped laser pulse has been studied using a series of two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. In this regime, the proton injection in the half-first period of an excited plasma wave in an under-dense plasma plays the main role in the acceleration process. Moreover, exciting as high as large-amplitude plasma waves can significantly increase the conversion efficiency of laser energy into kinetic energy of the trapped protons. Here, the utilization of the positively chirped laser pulse is proposed as an effective approach to excite the higher amplitude wake in the combinational regime. Our studies indicate that in the positively chirped combinational regime, the plasma wake with approximately two-fold enhancement is produced that results in the generation of the proton bunch with the narrower energy spread and also the peak enhancement by a factor of two, compared with the un-chirped one. This improvement in proton energy reveals that the chirped laser pulse can be introduced as a tool to tune the energy of generated protons in the combinational radiation pressure and bubble regime.

Femtosecond laser excitation of mixed Ar/Kr clusters: peculiarities of K-line x-ray production from nanoplasma under varied fraction of initial gas components

For the first time, we defined the range of krypton fraction (CKr) in an initial binary Ar–Kr gas mixture that provides the production of large (N ~ 106 atoms/cluster) mixed Ar/Kr clusters under co-expansion of the mixture at room temperature and the stagnant pressure of 25 bar. Mixed Ar/Kr clusters exist at the krypton fraction of 3–15%. The presence of mixed clusters is detected by the simultaneous generation of both x-ray Kα lines of argon (E = 3.1 keV) and krypton (E = 12.7 keV) from nanoplasma originating as a result of femtosecond nonlinear laser excitation with intensity about 5 · 1017 W cm−2. It was shown that the amplitude of lines in dual-energy x-ray spectrum can be controlled by proper selection of the fraction of initial gas mixture components. Maximal laser energy conversion efficiency to krypton x-ray line is achieved for pure krypton clusters (i.e. CKr = 100%) and reaches 2 · 10−7 at laser intensity of 5 · 1017 W cm−2. The laser energy conversion efficiency to argon x-ray line reaches the maximal value of 3 · 10−6 at Ckr = 0%.

Parametric investigation of laser interaction with uniform and nanostructured near-critical plasmas

Laser interaction with uniform and nanostructured near-critical plasmas has been investigated by means of 2D particle-in-cell simulations. The effect of a nanostructure (modeled as a collection of solid-density nanospheres) on energy absorption and radiative losses has been assessed in a wide range of laser intensities and average densities of the target. The nanostructure was found to affect mainly the conversion efficiency of laser energy into ion kinetic energy and radiative losses for the highest simulated intensities.