New insights in laser-generated ultra-intense gamma-ray and neutron sources for nuclear applications and science
M. M. Günther, O. N. Rosmej, P. Tavana, M. Gyrdymov, A. Skobliakov, A. Kantsyrev, S. Zähter, N. G. Borisenko, A. Pukhov, N. E. Andreev
发表信息：
Günther, M.M. et al. Forward-looking insights in laser-generated ultra-intense $γ$-ray and neutron sources for nuclear application and science. Nature Communications 13, 170 (2022)
Ultra-intense MeV photon and neutron beams are indispensable tools in many research fields such as nuclear, atomic and material science as well as in medical and biophysical applications. For astrophysical applications aimed for laboratory investigations, neutron fluxes in excess of 10$^{21}$ n/(cm$^2$ s) are required. Such ultra-high fluxes are unattainable with existing conventional reactor- and accelerator-based facilities. Currently discussed concepts for generating high-flux neutron beams are based on ultra-high-power multi-petawatt lasers operating at >10$^{23}$ W/cm$^2$ intensities. Here, we present a novel efficient concept for generating $γ$ and neutron beams based on enhanced generation of direct laser accelerated electrons in relativistic laser interactions with a long-scale near critical density plasma at 10$^{19}$ W/cm$^{2}$ intensity. New experimental insights in the laser-driven generation of ultra-intense well-directed multi-MeV beams of photons with >10$^{12}$ ph/sr and a ultra-high intense neutron source with >6$\times$10$^{10}$ neutrons per shot are presented. More than 1.4\% laser-to-gamma conversion efficiency above 10 MeV and 0.05\% laser-to-neutron conversion efficiency were recorded, already at moderate relativistic laser intensities and ps pulse duration. This approach promises a strong boost of the diagnostic potential of existing kJ PW laser systems used for ICF research.
When high-intensity laser interaction with matter enters the regime of dominated radiation reaction, the radiation losses open the way for producing short pulse high power gamma ray flashes. The gamma-ray pulse duration and divergence are determined by the laser pulse amplitude and by the plasma target density scale length. On the basis of theoretical analysis and particle-in-cell simulations with the radiation friction force incorporated, optimal conditions for generating a gamma-ray flash with a tailored overcritical density target are found.
In simulations of a 10PW laser striking a solid we demonstrate the possibility of producing a pure electron-positron plasma by the same processes as those thought to operate in high-energy astrophysical environments. A maximum positron density of 10^26/m^3 is achieved, seven orders of magnitude greater than achieved in previous experiments. Additionally, 35% of the laser energy is converted to a burst of gamma-rays of intensity 10^22W/cm^2, potentially the most intense gamma-ray source available in the laboratory. This absorption results in a strong feedback between both pair and gamma-ray pro…
The dynamics of the ultra-intense circularly polarized solitons under inhomogeneous plasmas are examined. The interaction is modeled by the Maxwell and relativistic hydrodynamic equations and is solved with fully implicit energy-conserving numerical scheme. It is shown that a propagating weak soliton can be decreased and reflected by increasing plasma background, which is consistent with the existing studies based on hypothesis of weak density response. However it is found that ultra-intense soliton is well trapped and kept still when encountering increasing background. Probably, this founding…
When laser intensity exceeds 10^22W/cm^2, photons with energy above MeV can be generated from high-order harmonics process in the laser-plasma interaction. We find that under such laser intensity, QED effect plays a dominating role in the radiation pattern. Contrast to the gas and relativistic HHG processes, both the occurrence and energy of gamma-ray emission produced by QED harmonics are random and QED harmonics are usually not coherent, while the property of high intensity and ultra-short duration is conserved. Our simulation shows that the period of gamma-ray train is half of the laser per…
Stimulated Raman scattering of an ultra-intense laser pulse in plasmas is studied by perturbatively including the leading order term of the Landau-Lifshitz radiation reaction force in the equation of motion for plasma electrons. In this approximation, radiation reaction force causes phase shift in nonlinear current densities that drive the two Raman sidebands (anti-Stokes and Stokes waves), manifesting itself into the nonlinear mixing of two sidebands. This mixing results in a strong enhancement in the growth of the forward Raman scattering instability.
The formation of relativistic electron mirror produced via ionization of thin solid target by ultraintense femtosecond laser pulse is considered with the help of computer simulations. It is shown that the reflection of weak counter-propagating wave from such a mirror can produce the coherent radiation in X-ray and gamma-ray bands. The spectrum of up-conversed radiation is investigated.
Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation results of sustained acceleration of electron-positron (e+e-) plasmas by comoving electromagnetic (EM) pulses are presented. When a thin slab of overdense e+e- plasma is irradiated with linear-polarized ultra-intense short laser pulses from both sides, the pulses are transmitted when the plasma is compressed to thinner than ~ 2 relativistic skin depths. A fraction of the plasma is then captured and efficiently accelerated by self-induced JxB forces. For 1 micron laser and 1021Wcm-2 intensity, the maximum energy exceeds GeV in a picosecond.
Intense and energetic electron currents can be generated by ultra-intense lasers interacting with solid density targets. Especially for ultra-short laser pulses their temporal evolution needs to be taken into account for many non-linear processes as instantaneous currents may differ significantly from the average. Hence, a dynamic model including the temporal variation of the electron currents which goes beyond a simple bunching with twice the laser frequency but otherwise constant current is needed. Here we present a new time-dependent model to describe the laser generated currents and obtain…
Snowplow ion acceleration is presented, using an ultra-relativistically intense laser pulse irradi- ating on a combination target, where the relativistic proton beam generated by radiation pressure acceleration can be trapped and accelerated by the laser plasma wakefield. The theory suggests that sub-TeV quasi-monoenergetic proton bunches can be generated by a centimeter-scale laser wakefield accelerator, driven by a circularly polarized (CP) laser pulse with the peak intensity of 10^23W/cm^2 and duration of 116fs.
Plasma high harmonics generation from an extremely intense short-pulse laser is explored by including the effects of ion motion, electron-ion collisions and radiation reaction force in the plasma dynamics. The laser radiation pressure induces plasma ion motion through the hole-boring effect resulting into the frequency shifting and widening of the harmonic spectra. Classical radiation reaction force slightly mitigates the frequency broadening caused by the ion motion. Based on the results and physical considerations, parameter maps highlighting optimum regions for generating a single intense a…
Hot electron temperatures and electron energy spectra in the course of interaction between intense laser pulse and overdense plasmas are reexamined from a viewpoint of the difference in laser wavelength. The hot electron temperature measured by a particle-in-cell simulation is scaled by $I$ rather than $I λ^2$ at the interaction with overdense plasmas with fixed ions, where $I$ and $λ$ are the laser intensity and wavelength, respectively.
Utilizing laser plasma wakefield to accelerate ultra-high charge electron beam is critical for many pioneering applications, for example to efficiently produce nuclear isomers with short lifetimes which may be widely used. However, because of the beam loading effect, electron charge in a single plasma bubble is limited in level of hundreds picocoulomb. Here, we experimentally present that a hundred kilo-ampere, twenty nanocoulomb, tens of MeV collimated electron beam is produced from a chain of wakefield acceleration, via a tightly focused intense laser pulse transversely matched in dense plas…
It has recently been suggested that two counter-propagating, circularly polarized, ultra-intense lasers can induce a strong electron spin polarization at the magnetic node of the electromagnetic field that they setup. We confirm these results by considering a more sophisticated description that integrates over realistic trajectories. The electron dynamics is weakly affected by the variation of power radiated due to the spin polarization. The degree of spin polarization differs by approximately 5\% if considering electrons initially at rest or already in a circular orbit. The instability of tra…
Ultra-intense ultra-short laser is firstly used to irradiate the capacity-coil target to generate magnetic field. The spatial structure and temporal evolution of huge magnetic fields were studied with time-gated proton radiography method. A magnetic flux density of 40T was measured by comparing the proton deflection and particle track simulations. Although the laser pulse duration is only 30fs, the generated magnetic field can last for over 100 picoseconds. The energy conversion efficiency from laser to magnetic field can reach as high as ~20%. The results indicate that tens of tesla (T) magne…
We report here an exact analytical travelling wave solution for nonlinear electron plasma wave excited by an intense ultra-relativistic proton beam. It brings out the underlying physics of longitudinal electric field characteristics of the excited wake wave formed behind the drive beam. The results are further supplemented by a fully relativistic particle in cell (PIC) code OSIRIS in 2D geometry. The plasma and beam parameters in the simulation are chosen in conformity with experimental work and it provides us the anticipated axial and transverse electric field profiles. The investigation is f…
The problem of harmonics generation in nanotargets is considered at the range of parameters (a nanotarget diameter and a pump laser intensity) when the oscillation amplitude of an electron in a target is much larger than the target width. Electron motion in charged nanotargets in the presence of a laser field of different (non-relativistic) strength is considered. It is demonstarted that for lasers of infrared frequencies clusters do not posess strong enough potential to bound electrons with large oscillation amplitudes. Opposite to clusters, nanofilms were found to be very perspective targets…
The production of polarized proton beams with multi-GeV energies in ultra-intense laser interaction with targets is studied with three-dimensional Particle-In-Cell simulations. A near-critical density plasma target with pre-polarized proton and tritium ions is considered for the proton acceleration. The pre-polarized protons are initially accelerated by laser radiation pressure before injection and further acceleration in a bubble-like wakefield. The temporal dynamics of proton polarization is tracked via the T-BMT equation, and it is found that the proton polarization state can be altered bot…
We observe near 100 % absorption of light in intense ultrashort laser plasma interaction in a metal coated (Au on glass) sub-lambda grating structure under suitable conditions and the subsequent 'hot' electron generation from the grating plasma. In the low intensity regime we determine the conditions in which a monochromatic infrared light (lambda = 800nm corresponding to the central wavelength of the ultrashort laser that we used in subsequent experiments) efficiently excites surface plasmon in the grating. Then we study how the surface plasmon resonance condition changes when we excite them …
We study the initial properties and positron annihilation within a small electron-positron plasma drop formed by intense laser pulse. Such QED cascade initiated plasma is, in general, far below the chemical (particle yield) equilibrium. We find that the available electrons and positrons equilibrate kinetically, yet despite relatively high particle density, the electron-positron annihilation is very slow, suggesting a rather long lifespan of the plasma drop.
It is shown that when relativistically intense ultrashort laser pulses are reflected from the boundary of a plasma with a near-critical density, Doppler frequency shift leads to generation of intense radiation both in the high-frequency, up to the X-ray, range, and in the low-frequency, mid-infrared, range. The efficiency of energy conversion into the wavelength range of greater than 3 $μ$m can reach several percent, which makes it possible to obtain relativistically intense pulses in the mid-infrared range. These pulses are synchronized with high harmonics in the ultraviolet and X-ray ranges,…
The radiation reaction effects on electron dynamics in counter-propagating circularly polarized laser beams are investigated through the linearization theorem and the results are in great agreement with numeric solutions. For the first time, the properties of fixed points in electron phase-space were analyzed with linear stability theory, showing that center nodes will become attractors if the classical radiation reaction is considered. Electron dynamics are significantly affected by the properties of the fixed points and the electron phase-space densities are found to be increasing exponentia…
We demonstrate an intense broadband terahertz (THz) source based on the interaction of relativistic-intensity femtosecond lasers with aligned copper nanorod array targets. For copper nanorod targets with length 5 μm, a maximum 13.8 times enhancement in the THz pulse energy (in $\leq$ 20 THz spectral range) is measured as compared to that with a thick plane copper target under the same laser conditions. A further increase in the nanorod length leads to a decrease in the THz pulse energy at medium frequencies ($\leq$ 20THz) and increase of the electromagnetic pulse energy in the high-frequency r…
Although, for current laser pulse energies, the weakly nonlinear regime of LWFA is known to be the optimal for reaching the highest possible electron energies, the capabilities of upcoming large laser systems will provide the possibility of running highly nonlinear regimes of laser pulse propagation in underdense or near-critical plasmas. Using an extended particle-in-cell (PIC) model that takes into account all the relevant physics, we show that such regimes can be implemented with external guiding for a relatively long distance of propagation and allow for the stable transformation of laser …
The efficient generation of intense X-rays and $γ$-radiation is studied. The scheme is based on the relativistic mirror concept, {\it i.e.}, a flying thin plasma slab interacts with a counterpropagating laser pulse, reflecting part of it in the form of an intense ultra-short electromagnetic pulse having an up-shifted frequency. In the proposed scheme a series of relativistic mirrors is generated in the interaction of the intense laser with a thin foil target as the pulse tears off and accelerates thin electron layers. A counterpropagating pulse is reflected by these flying layers in the form o…
Advances in ultra-intense laser technology are enabling, for the first time, relativistic intensities at mid-infrared (mid-IR) wavelengths. Anticipating further experimental research in this domain, we present high-resolution two dimensional Particle-in-Cell (PIC) simulation results using the Large- Scale Plasma (LSP) code that explore intense mid-IR laser interactions with dense targets. We present the results of thirty PIC simulations over a wide range of intensities (0.03 < $a_0$ < 39) and wavelengths (λ =780 nm, 3 μm, and 10 μm). Earlier studies, limited to λ =780 nm and $a_0 \sim$ 1 [1, 2…
A novel radiation pressure acceleration (RPA) regime of heavy ion beams from laser-irradiated ultrathin foils is proposed by self-consistently taking into account the ionization dynamics. In this regime, the laser intensity is required to match with the large ionization energy gap when the successive ionization of high-Z atoms passing the noble gas configurations [such as removing an electron from the helium-like charge state $(\text{Z}-2)^+$ to $(\text{Z}-1)^+$]. While the target ions in the laser wing region are ionized to low charge states and undergo rapid dispersions due to instabilities,…
We investigate bulk ion heating in solid buried layer targets irradiated by ultra-short laser pulses of relativistic intensities using particle-in-cell simulations. Our study focuses on a CD2-Al-CD2 sandwich target geometry. We find enhanced deuteron ion heating in a layer compressed by the expanding aluminium layer. A pressure gradient created at the Al-CD2 interface pushes this layer of deuteron ions towards the outer regions of the target. During its passage through the target, deuteron ions are constantly injected into this layer. Our simulations suggest that the directed collective outwar…
We show that extreme vacuum pressures can be measured with current technology by detecting the photons produced by the relativistic Thomson scattering of ultra-intense laser light by the electrons of the medium. We compute the amount of radiation scattered at different frequencies and angles and design strategies for the efficient measurement of pressure. In particular, we show that a single day experiment at a high repetition rate Petawatt laser facility such as VEGA, that will be operating in 2014 in Salamanca, will be sensitive, in principle, to pressures p as low as 10^{-16} Pa, and will b…
The description of the dynamics of an electron in an external electromagnetic field of arbitrary intensity is one of the most fundamental outstanding problems in electrodynamics. Remarkably, to date there is no unanimously accepted theoretical solution for ultra-high intensities and little or no experimental data. The basic challenge is the inclusion of the self-interaction of the electron with the field emitted by the electron itself - the so-called radiation reaction force. We report here on the experimental evidence of strong radiation reaction, in an all-optical experiment, during the prop…
We study the interaction of intense ultrashort laser pulses with cryogenic He jets using 2d/3v relativistic Particle-in-Cell simulations (XOOPIC). Of particular interest are laser intensities $(10^{15}-10^{20})$ W/cm$^2$, pulse lengths $\le 100$ fs, and the frequency regime $\sim 800$ nm for which the jets are initially transparent and subsequently not homogeneously ionized. Pulses $\ge 10^{16}$ W/cm$^2$ are found to drive ionization along the jet and outside the laser spot, the ionization-front propagates along the jet at a fraction of the speed of light. Within the ionized region, there is a…
Experiments were performed to study electron acceleration by intense sub-picosecond laser pulses propagating in sub-mm long plasmas of near critical electron density (NCD). Low density foam layers of 300-500 um thickness were used as targets. The NCD-plasma was produced by a mechanism of a super-sonic ionization when a well-defined separate ns-pulse was sent onto the foam-target forerunning the relativistic main pulse. The effect of the relativistic laser pulse channeling and creation of quasi-static azimuthal magnetic and radial electric fields that keeps electrons in the channel ensured effe…
When a high-contrast ultra-relativistic laser beam enters a micro-sized plasma waveguide, the pulse energy is coupled into waveguide modes, which remarkably modifies the interaction of electrons and electromagnetic wave. The electrons that pulled out of walls form a dense helical bunch inside the channel are efficiently accelerated by the transverse magnetic modes to hundreds of MeVs. In the mean time, the asymmetry in the transverse electric and magnetic fields provides significant wiggling that leads to a bright, well-collimated emission of hard X-rays. In this paper, we present our study on…
A microtube implosion driven by ultraintense laser pulses is used to produce ultrahigh magnetic fields. Due to the laser-produced hot electrons with energies of mega-electron volts, cold ions in the inner wall surface implode towards the central axis. By pre-seeding uniform magnetic fields on the kilotesla order, the Lorenz force induces the Larmor gyromotion of the imploding ions and electrons. Due to the resultant collective motion of relativistic charged particles around the central axis, strong spin current densities of ~ peta-ampere/cm2 are produced with a few tens of nm size, generating …
We show a new effect of the bow wave excitation by an intense short laser pulse propagating in underdense plasma. Due to spreading of the laser pulse energy in transverse direction, the bow wave causes a large-scale transverse modulation of the electron density. This can significantly increase the electric potential of the wake wave since the wake wave is generated in the region much wider than the laser pulse waist.
We demonstrate the potential of X-ray free-electron lasers (XFEL) to advancethe understanding of complex plasma dynamics by allowing for the first time nanometer and femtosecond resolution at the same time in plasma diagnostics. Plasma phenomena on such short timescales are of high relevance for many fields of physics, in particular in the ultra-intense ultra-short laser interaction with matter. Highly relevant yet only partially understood phenomena may become directly accessible in experiment. These include relativistic laser absorption at solid targets, creation of energetic electrons and e…
A two-phase model, where the plasma expansion is an isothermal one when laser irradiates and a following adiabatic one after laser ends, has been proposed to predict the maximum energy of the proton beams induced in the ultra-intense laser-foil interactions. The hot-electron recirculation in the ultra-intense laser-solid interactions has been accounted in and described by the time-dependent hot-electron density continuously in this model. The dilution effect of electron density as electrons recirculate and spread laterally has been considered. With our model, the scaling laws of maximum ion en…
Laser pulses traveling through a plasma can feature group velocities significantly differing from the speed of light in vacuum. This modifies the well-known Volkov states of an electron inside a strong laser-field from the vacuum case and consequently all quantum electrodynamical effects triggered by the electron. Here we present an in-depth study of the basic process of photon emission by an electron scattered from an intense short laser pulse inside a plasma, labeled nonlinear Compton scattering, based on modified Volkov solutions derived from first principles. Consequences of the nonlinear,…
The Lagrangian and Hamiltonian functions describing average motion of a relativistic particle under the action of a slightly inhomogeneous intense laser field are obtained. In weak low-frequency background fields, such a particle on average drifts with an effective, relativistically invariant mass, which depends on the laser intensity. The essence of the proposed ponderomotive formulation is presented in a physically intuitive and mathematically simple form, yet represents a powerful tool for studying various nonlinear phenomena caused by interaction of currently available smooth ultra-intense…
A comprehensive theory is proposed to describe the propagation and absorption of ultra-intense, short laser pulse through the under-dense plasma. The kinetic aspects of plasma are fully incorporated using extensive particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. It is turned out that the plasma behavior is characterized by both its density and the ratio of the pulse length to the plasma wavelength. According to exact analyses and direct simulation evidences, at ultra-low densities the laser pulse is adiabatically depleted (absorbed) by the wake excitation. And the depletion is accompanied by the overall r…
Ultra-intense laser-matter interaction experiments (>10$^{18}$ W/cm$^{2}$) with dense targets are highly sensitive to the effect of laser "noise" (in the form of pre-pulses) preceding the main ultra-intense pulse. These system-dependent pre-pulses in the nanosecond and/or picosecond regimes are often intense enough to modify the target significantly by ionizing and forming a plasma layer in front of the target. Time resolved interferometry offers a robust way to characterize the expanding plasma during this period. We have developed a novel pump-probe interferometry system for an ultra-intense…
A propagation of an ultra-intense short laser pulse in a fiber is investigated with two dimensional Particle-in-Cell simulations. The fiber is a narrow hollow channel with walls consisting of overdense plasma. In the nonlinear interaction of the laser pulse with fiber walls high order harmonics are generated. Sufficiently high harmonics, for which the fiber walls are transparent, propagate outwards at certain angle. This is a scheme of a generator of ultra-short pulses of coherent light with a very short wavelength.
The dynamical properties of Cu in a regime relevant to femtosecond micro machining are obtained on picosecond time scales using pump-probe reflectivity study for 100fs, 1015 W cm-2 laser pulses. The electrical resistivity is obtained by solving Helmoltz equations. The dissipation mechanisms and scaling laws are obtained in high and low temperature limits. The 'resistivity saturation' effect in an unexplored regime intermediate to hot plasma and cold solid is studied in detail. The temperature evolution and thermal conductivity is obtained in the temporal range 0 to 30ps after the interaction o…
Frequency downshifting stair for ultra-intense femtosecond lasers through a plasma-photonics structure
Tsinghua University（清华大学）；National Key Laboratory of Plasma Physics, Laser Fusion Research Center, China Academy of Engineering Physics（中国工程物理研究院激光聚变研究中心等离子体物理国家重点实验室）；Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences（北京量子信息科学研究院）；Shanghai Institute of Laser Plasma, China Academy of Engineering Physics（中国工程物理研究院上海激光等离子体研究所）；Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences（中国科学院高能物理研究所）
Recently achieved high intensities of short laser pulses open new prospects in their application to hole boring in inhomogeneous overdense plasmas and for ignition in precompressed DT fusion targets. A simple analytical model and numerical simulations demonstrate that pulses with intensities exceeding 1022 W/cm2 may penetrate deeply into the plasma as a result of efficient ponderomotive acceleration of ions in the forward direction. The penetration depth as big as hundreds of microns depends on the laser fluence, which has to exceed a few tens of GJ/cm2. The fast ions, accelerated at the botto…
Twisted Laguerre-Gaussian lasers, with orbital angular momentum and characterised by doughnut shaped intensity profiles, provide a transformative set of tools and research directions in a growing range of fields and applications, from super-resolution microcopy and ultra-fast optical communications to quantum computing and astrophysics. The impact of twisted light is widening as recent numerical calculations provided solutions to long-standing challenges in plasma-based acceleration by allowing for high gradient positron acceleration. The production of ultrahigh intensity twisted laser pulses …
Proton acceleration by high-intensity laser pulses from ultra-thin foils for hadron therapy is discussed. With the improvement of the laser intensity contrast ratio to 10-11 achieved on Hercules laser at the University of Michigan, it became possible to attain laser-solid interactions at intensities up to 1022 W/cm2 that allows an efficient regime of laser-driven ion acceleration from submicron foils. Particle-In-Cell (PIC) computer simulations of proton acceleration in the Directed Coulomb explosion regime from ultra-thin double-layer (heavy ions / light ions) foils of different thicknesses w…
We discuss scaling laws of fusion yields generated by laser-plasma interactions. The yields are found to scale as a function of the laser power. The origin of the scaling law in the laser driven fusion yield is derived in terms of hydrodynamic scaling. We point out that the scaling properties can be attributed to the laser power dependence of three terms: the reaction rate, the density of the plasma and the projected range of the plasma particle in the target medium. The resulting scaling relations have a predictive power that enables estimating the fusion yield for a nuclear reaction which ha…
This paper studies the interaction of laser-driven $γ$-photons and high energy charged particles with high-Z targets through Monte-Carlo simulations. The interacting particles are taken from particle-in-cell simulations of the interaction of a tightly-focused ultraintense laser pulse with a titanium target. Lead is chosen as the secondary high-Z target owing to its high cross section of the giant dipole resonance and electron-positron pair production. The results reveal an ultra-short ultra-relativistic collimated positron population and their energy spectra, angular distribution, and temporal…
We demonstrate that the nontrivial dispersion of a plasma driven by a high-intensity laser pulse qualitatively affects fundamental nonperturbative QED processes triggered by the laser pulse even in the case that no electrons remain in the interaction volume, e.g., due to ponderomotive expulsion. In the electron-free case this plasma effect is mediated by the response current of the residual ions as a dispersive effect on the laser propagation. The residual ions hence act as an effective background to the propagating electromagnetic laser field. We demonstrate that this has an impact on the fun…
