Abstract
This Letter describes the first experimental demonstration of the guiding of a relativistic electron beam in a solid target using two colinear, relativistically intense, picosecond laser pulses. The first pulse creates a magnetic field that guides the higher-current, fast-electron beam generated by the second pulse. The effects of intensity ratio, delay, total energy, and intrinsic prepulse are examined. Thermal and K alpha imaging show reduced emission size, increased peak emission, and increased total emission at delays of 4-6 ps, an intensity ratio of 10:1 (second: first) and a total energy of 186 J. In comparison to a single, high-contrast shot, the inferred fast-electron divergence is reduced by 2.7 times, while the fast-electron current density is increased by a factor of 1.8. The enhancements are reproduced with modeling and are shown to be due to the self-generation of magnetic fields. Such a scheme could be of considerable benefit to fast-ignition inertial fusion.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 015001 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Physical Review Letters |
| Volume | 109 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 6 Jul 2012 |
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Keywords
- vulcan petawatt
- facility
- ignition
- preamplifier
- high-gain
- fast-electron-beam
- divergence
- two laser pulses
- control
Cite this
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Controlling fast-electron-beam divergence using two laser pulses. / Scott, R. H. H.; Beaucourt, C.; Schlenvoigt, H. -P.; Markey, K.; Lancaster, K. L.; Ridgers, C. P.; Brenner, C. M.; Pasley, J.; Gray, R. J.; Musgrave, I. O.; Robinson, A. P. L.; Li, K.; Notley, M. M.; Davies, J. R.; Baton, S. D.; Santos, J. J.; Feugeas, J. -L.; Nicolai, Ph.; Malka, G.; Tikhonchuk, V. T.; McKenna, P.; Neely, D.; Rose, S. J.; Norreys, P. A.
In: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 109, No. 1, 015001, 06.07.2012.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Controlling fast-electron-beam divergence using two laser pulses
AU - Scott, R. H. H.
AU - Beaucourt, C.
AU - Schlenvoigt, H. -P.
AU - Markey, K.
AU - Lancaster, K. L.
AU - Ridgers, C. P.
AU - Brenner, C. M.
AU - Pasley, J.
AU - Gray, R. J.
AU - Musgrave, I. O.
AU - Robinson, A. P. L.
AU - Li, K.
AU - Notley, M. M.
AU - Davies, J. R.
AU - Baton, S. D.
AU - Santos, J. J.
AU - Feugeas, J. -L.
AU - Nicolai, Ph.
AU - Malka, G.
AU - Tikhonchuk, V. T.
AU - McKenna, P.
AU - Neely, D.
AU - Rose, S. J.
AU - Norreys, P. A.
PY - 2012/7/6
Y1 - 2012/7/6
N2 - This Letter describes the first experimental demonstration of the guiding of a relativistic electron beam in a solid target using two colinear, relativistically intense, picosecond laser pulses. The first pulse creates a magnetic field that guides the higher-current, fast-electron beam generated by the second pulse. The effects of intensity ratio, delay, total energy, and intrinsic prepulse are examined. Thermal and K alpha imaging show reduced emission size, increased peak emission, and increased total emission at delays of 4-6 ps, an intensity ratio of 10:1 (second: first) and a total energy of 186 J. In comparison to a single, high-contrast shot, the inferred fast-electron divergence is reduced by 2.7 times, while the fast-electron current density is increased by a factor of 1.8. The enhancements are reproduced with modeling and are shown to be due to the self-generation of magnetic fields. Such a scheme could be of considerable benefit to fast-ignition inertial fusion.
AB - This Letter describes the first experimental demonstration of the guiding of a relativistic electron beam in a solid target using two colinear, relativistically intense, picosecond laser pulses. The first pulse creates a magnetic field that guides the higher-current, fast-electron beam generated by the second pulse. The effects of intensity ratio, delay, total energy, and intrinsic prepulse are examined. Thermal and K alpha imaging show reduced emission size, increased peak emission, and increased total emission at delays of 4-6 ps, an intensity ratio of 10:1 (second: first) and a total energy of 186 J. In comparison to a single, high-contrast shot, the inferred fast-electron divergence is reduced by 2.7 times, while the fast-electron current density is increased by a factor of 1.8. The enhancements are reproduced with modeling and are shown to be due to the self-generation of magnetic fields. Such a scheme could be of considerable benefit to fast-ignition inertial fusion.
KW - vulcan petawatt
KW - facility
KW - ignition
KW - preamplifier
KW - high-gain
KW - fast-electron-beam
KW - divergence
KW - two laser pulses
KW - control
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84863660165&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.015001
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.015001
M3 - Article
VL - 109
JO - Physical Review Letters
T2 - Physical Review Letters
JF - Physical Review Letters
SN - 0031-9007
IS - 1
M1 - 015001
ER -