High-intensity Laser Field Research Articles

Thermal effects in systems of colloidal plasmonic nanoparticles in high-intensity pulsed laser fields [Invited

We have studied light induced processes in nanocolloids and composite materials containing ordered and disordered aggregates of plasmonic nanoparticles accompanied by their strong heating. A universal comprehensive physical model that combines mechanical, electrodynamical, and thermal interactions at nanoscale has been developed as a tool for investigations. This model was used to gain deep insight on phenomena that take place in nanoparticle aggregates under high-intensity pulsed laser radiation resulting in the suppression of nanoparticle resonant properties. Verification of the model was carried out with single colloidal Au and Ag nanoparticles and their aggregates.

An electron of helium atom under a high-intensity laser field

We scrutinize the behavior of eigenvalues of an electron in a helium (He) atom as it interacts with electric field directed along the z-axis and is exposed to linearly polarized intense laser field radiation. To achieve this, we freeze one electron of the He atom at its ionic ground state and the motion of the second electron in the ion core is treated via a more general case of screened Coulomb potential model. Using the Kramers–Henneberger (KH) unitary transformation, which is the semiclassical counterpart of the Block–Nordsieck transformation in the quantized field formalism, the squared vector potential that appears in the equation of motion is eliminated and the resultant equation is expressed in the KH frame. Within this frame, the resulting potential and the corresponding wave function are expanded in Fourier series and using Ehlotzky’s approximation, we obtain a laser-dressed potential to simulate intense laser field. By fitting the more general case of screened Coulomb potential model into the laser-dressed potential, and then expanding it in Taylor series up to , we obtain the solution (eigenvalues and wave function) of an electron in a He atom under the influence of external electric field and high-intensity laser field, within the framework of perturbation theory formalism. We found that the variation in frequency of laser radiation has no effect on the eigenvalues of a He electron for a particular electric field intensity directed along z-axis. Also, for a very strong external electric field and an infinitesimal screening parameter, the system is strongly bound. This work has potential application in the areas of atomic and molecular processes in external fields including interactions with strong fields and short pulses.

Spontaneous transitions in atomic system in the presence of high-intensity laser field

A new approach to the study of the spontaneous emission of the quantum system driven by a high-intensity laser field is developed. This approach is based on the accurate consideration of quantum system interaction with vacuum quantized field modes in the first order of perturbation theory, while the intense laser field is considered classically beyond the perturbation theory which allows to observe any-order stimulated processes governed by classical field. The proposed approach is applied to the study of a number of quantum systems in intense laser field. The obtained data are compared with those obtained in the frames of semiclassical approximation typically used for analyzing of the strong-field dynamic. It is found that the applicability of the semiclassical approach is strictly limited. It is valid for calculation of transitions to the initially populated state only if the population of this state is close to unity during the pulse and in the after-pulse regime. If its population is depleted, the semiclassical approach fails.

Retraction: Higher-Order Nonlocal Effects of a Relativistic Ponderomotive Force in High-Intensity Laser Fields [Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 035002 (2014)

Retraction of DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.035002.

Amplification and lasing in a plasma channel formed in gases by an intense femtosecond laser pulse in the regime of interference stabilization

The effect of the interference stabilization of Rydberg atoms in a high-intensity laser field is proposed to create a plasma channel with population inversion between a set of Rydberg states and the low-lying excited and ground state for the conversion of the input laser energy into the visible or VUV and XUV frequency band. Furthermore, there is a possibility of creating population inversion between high-lying Rydberg states that can be used for lasing and amplification in the IR, mid-IR, and terahertz frequency band.

Femtosecond two-photon Rabi oscillations in excited He driven by ultrashort intense laser fields

Two-photon Rabi oscillations are observed in He on a timescale of 10 fs by utilizing the strong-field phenomenon known as Freeman resonance. The importance of ponderomotive shifts of both the Rydberg states and the ionization limit is highlighted. Coherent light–matter interaction provides powerful methods for manipulating quantum systems1,2,3. Rabi oscillation is one such process. As it enables complete population transfer to a target state, it is thus routinely exploited in a variety of applications in photonics, notably quantum information processing4,5. The extension of coherent control techniques to the multiphoton regime offers wider applicability, and access to highly excited or dipole-forbidden transition states. However, the multiphoton Rabi process is often disrupted by other competing nonlinear effects such as the a.c. Stark shift, especially at the high laser-field intensities necessary to achieve ultrafast Rabi oscillations6. Here we demonstrate a new route to drive two-photon Rabi oscillations on timescales as short as tens of femtoseconds, by utilizing the strong-field phenomenon known as Freeman resonance7. The scenario is not specific to atomic helium as investigated in the present study, but broadly applicable to other systems, thus opening new prospects for the ultrafast manipulation of Rydberg states8.

Surface-plasmon–assisted magnetic anomalies on room temperature gold films in high-intensity laser fields

Supplementing our STM and electron emission investigations, concluding in electron pairing in strong laser fields (Kroó N. et al., EPL, 105 (2014) 67003), further time-of-flight electron emission studies were carried out, changing the angle of polarization of the incident light, exciting surface plasmon oscillations. It has been found, that those parts of the electron spectrum which have been attributed to electron pairing have a significantly different angular dependence around where the pairing effect has been found with respect to outside this region (e.g., ). These results have been interpreted as the appearance of ideal or partly ideal diamagnetism, on the one hand, and as anomaly in the magneto-optical effect (rotation) on the other hand, in the same laser intensity region where the pairing effect has been found.

Extreme-field physics in Penning traps

We present two Penning trap experiments concerned with different aspects of the physics of extreme electromagnetic fields, the ARTEMIS experiment designed for bound-electron magnetic moment measurements in the presence of the extremely strong fields close to the nucleus of highly charged ions, and the HILITE experiment, in which well-defined ion targets are to be subjected to high-intensity laser fields.

Interference stabilization and UV lasing in a plasma channel formed in gas by intense RF field

The effect of interference stabilization of Rydberg atoms in a high-intensity IR laser field is proposed to create a plasma channel with population inversion for conversion of the input laser energy into the VUV and XUV frequency band.

Temporal resolution criterion for correctly simulating relativistic electron motion in a high-intensity laser field

Particle-in-cell codes are now standard tools for studying ultra-intense laser-plasma interactions. Motivated by direct laser acceleration of electrons in sub-critical plasmas, we examine temporal resolution requirements that must be satisfied to accurately calculate electron dynamics in strong laser fields. Using the motion of a single electron in a perfect plane electromagnetic wave as a test problem, we show surprising deterioration of the numerical accuracy with increasing wave amplitude a0 for a given time-step. We go on to show analytically that the time-step must be significantly less than λ/ca0 to achieve good accuracy. We thus propose adaptive electron sub-cycling as an efficient remedy.

Представление вероятностей квантовых переходов функциональным интегралом в пространстве энергетических состояний

В рамках формализма функционального интегрирования (интегрирования по траекториям) излагается непертурбативный метод описания динамики многоуровневых квантовых систем (атомов, молекул, наносистем), взаимодействующих с полем лазерного излучения высокой интенсивности. Вероятности переходов между состояниями квантовой системы под действием внешнего электромагнитного поля представляются функциональным интегралом в энергетическом представлении (в пространстве энергетических состояний исследуемой многоуровневой квантовой системы). На основании предложенного метода вычисляются вероятности переходов двухатомных молекул между энергетическими уровнями вращательных степеней свободы под действием серии пикосекундных импульсов лазерного излучения. Проведено численное моделирование динамики населенностей различных вращательных квантовых состояний молекул $^{14}\mathrm N_2$ и $^{15}\mathrm N_2$ под действием серии пикосекундых лазерных импульсов различной интенсивности и с различным периодом группы импульсов. Показано, что при определенных интервалах между лазерными импульсами наблюдается явление резонанса переноса населенности с низших на более высокие вращательные уровни исследуемых молекул. Данный резонанс исследуется при различных интенсивностях лазерных импульсов. Примечательно, что параметры лазерного излучения, при которых наблюдается резонансный переход населенностей молекул, различны для $^{14}\mathrm N_2$ и $^{15}\mathrm N_2$. Полученные результаты указывают на возможность селективного возбуждения изотопов под действием групп ультракоротких лазерных импульсов путем варьирования их интенсивности и периода следования в группе. Результаты численного моделирования количественно согласуются с результатами экспериментальных исследований [Phys. Rev. Lett., 2012, vol. 109, 043003].

Steering neutral atoms in strong laser fields

The seminal strong-field tunnelling theory introduced by L V Keldysh plays a pivotal role. It has shaped our understanding of atomic strong-field processes, where it represents the first step in complex ionisation dynamics and provides reliable tunnelling rates. Tunnelling rates, however, cannot be necessarily equated with ionisation rates. Taking into account the electron dynamics in the Coulomb potential following the tunnelling process, the process of frustrated tunnelling ionisation has been found to lead to excited Rydberg atoms. Here, we excite He atoms in the strong-field tunnelling regime into Rydberg states. A high percentage of these Rydberg atoms survive in high intensity laser fields. We exploit this fact together with their high polarisability to kinematically manipulate the Rydberg atoms with a second elliptically polarised focused strong laser field. By varying the spatial overlap of the two laser foci, we are able to selectively control the deflection of the Rydberg atoms. The results of semi-classical calculations, which are based on the frustrated tunnelling model and on the ponderomotive acceleration, are in accord with our experimental data.

Sensitivity to dark-energy candidates by searching for four-wave mixing of high-intensity lasers in the vacuum

Theoretical challenges to understand Dark Matter and Dark Energy suggest the existence of low-mass and weakly coupling fields in the universe. The quasi-parallel photon-photon collision system (QPS) can provide chances to probe the resonant production of these light dark fields and the induced decay by the coherent nature of laser fields simultaneously. By focusing high-intensity lasers with different colors in the vacuum, new colors emerge as the signature of the interaction. Because four photons in the initial and final states interplay via the dark field exchange, this process is analogous to four-wave mixing in quantum optics, where the frequency sum and difference among the incident three waves generate the fourth wave with a new frequency via the nonlinear property of crystals. The interaction rate of the four-wave mixing process has the cubic dependence on the intensity of each wave. Therefore, if high-intensity laser fields are given, the sensitivity to the weakly coupling of dark fields to photons rapidly increases over the wide mass range below sub-eV. Based on the experimentally measurable photon energies and the linear polarization states, we formulate the relation between the accessible mass-coupling domains and the high-intensity laser parameters, where the effects of the finite spectrum width of pulse lasers are taken into account. The expected sensitivity suggests that we have a potential to explore interactions at the Super-Planckian coupling strength in the sub-eV mass range, if the cutting-edge laser technologies are properly combined.

Improving the accuracy of simulation of radiation-reaction effects with implicit Runge-Kutta-Nyström methods

The Landau-Lifshitz equation provides an efficient way to account for the effects of radiation reaction without acquiring the nonphysical solutions typical for the Lorentz-Abraham-Dirac equation. We solve the Landau-Lifshitz equation in its covariant four-vector form in order to control both the energy and momentum of radiating particles. Our study reveals that implicit time-symmetric collocation methods of the Runge-Kutta-Nyström type are superior in accuracy and better at maintaining the mass-shell condition than their explicit counterparts. We carry out an extensive study of numerical accuracy by comparing the analytical and numerical solutions of the Landau-Lifshitz equation. Finally, we present the results of the simulation of particle scattering by a focused laser pulse. Due to radiation reaction, particles are less capable of penetrating into the focal region compared to the case where radiation reaction is neglected. Our results are important for designing forthcoming experiments with high intensity laser fields.

Operator definition and derivation of collisional energy and momentum loss in relativistic plasmas

We present an operator definition of the collisional energy and momentum loss suffered by an energetic charged particle in the presence of a medium. Our approach uses the energy-momentum tensor of the medium to evaluate the energy and momentum transfer rates. We apply this formalism to an energetic lepton or quark propagating in thermal electron-positron or quark-gluon plasmas, respectively. By using two different approaches to describe the energetic charged particle, an external current approach and a diagrammatic approach, we show explicitly that the operator method reproduces the known results for collisional energy loss from the scattering rate formalism. We further use our results to evaluate the collisional energy and momentum loss for the cases of heavy quark propagation through a quark-gluon plasma and energetic muon propagation in an electron-positron plasma produced in a high-intensity laser field.

On the possibility of the generation of high harmonics with photon energies greater than upon interaction of intense mid-IR radiation with neutral gases

Based on the analytical quantum-mechanical description in the framework of the modified strong-field approximation, we have investigated high harmonic generation of mid-IR laser radiation in neutral gases taking into account the depletion of bound atomic levels of the working medium and the electron magnetic drift in a high-intensity laser field. The possibility is shown to generate high-order harmonics with photon energies greater than under irradiation of helium atoms by intense femtosecond laser pulses with a centre wavelength of .

Laser-driven search of axion-like particles including vacuum polarization effects

Oscillations of photons into axion-like particles in a high-intensity laser field are investigated. Nonlinear QED effects are considered through the low energy behavior of the vacuum polarization tensor, which is derived from the Euler–Heisenberg Lagrangian in the one-loop and weak field approximations. The expressions obtained in this framework are applied to the configuration in which the strong background field is a circularly polarized monochromatic plane wave. The outcomes of this analysis reveal that, in the regime of low energy–momentum transfer, the axion field induces a chiral-like birefringence and dichroism in the vacuum which is not manifest in a pure QED context. The corresponding ellipticity and angular rotation of the polarization plane are also determined. We take advantage of such observables to impose exclusion limits on the axion parameters. Our predictions cover axion masses for which a setup based on dipole magnets provides less stringent constraints. Possible experimental scenarios in which our results could be tested are also discussed.

Higher-Order Nonlocal Effects of a Relativistic Ponderomotive Force in High-Intensity Laser Fields

We have developed a new formula for a relativistic ponderomotive force of transversely localized laser fields based on the noncanonical Lie perturbation method by finding proper coordinates and gauges in the variational principle. The formula involves new terms represented by second and third spatial derivatives of the field amplitude, so that the ponderomotive force depends not only on the local field gradient, but also on the curvature and its variation. The formula is then applicable to a regime in which the conventional formula is hardly applied such that nonlocal and/or global extent of the field profile becomes important. The result can provide a theoretical basis for describing nonlinear laser-plasma interaction including such nonlocal effects, which is examined via particle-in-cell simulation of laser propagation in a plasma with a super Gaussian transverse field profile.

Strongly enhanced pair production in combined high- and low-frequency laser fields

Production of particle-antiparticle pairs by a high-energy probe photon propagating through a high-intensity laser field is considered in the nonperturbative interaction regime. The laser field consists of a strong low-frequency and a weak high-frequency component. While for each component alone photoproduction of pairs is strongly suppressed, we show that their combination can largely amplify the pair production probability by facilitating to bridge the energetic barrier of the process. Our predictions can be tested by utilizing presently available high-intensity laser devices.

Multi-charged heavy ion acceleration from the ultra-intense short pulse laser system interacting with the metal target

Experimental demonstration of multi-charged heavy ion acceleration from the interaction between the ultra-intense short pulse laser system and the metal target is presented. Al ions are accelerated up to 12 MeV/u (324 MeV total energy). To our knowledge, this is far the highest energy ever reported for the case of acceleration of the heavy ions produced by the <10 J laser energy of 200 TW class Ti:sapphire laser system. Adding to that, thanks to the extraordinary high intensity laser field of ∼10(21) W cm(-2), the accelerated ions are almost fully stripped, having high charge to mass ratio (Q/M).