Controlling fast-electron-beam divergence using two laser pulses

R. H. H. Scott; C. Beaucourt; H. -P. Schlenvoigt; K. Markey; K. L. Lancaster; C. P. Ridgers; C. M. Brenner; J. Pasley; R. J. Gray; I. O. Musgrave; A. P. L. Robinson; K. Li; M. M. Notley; J. R. Davies; S. D. Baton; J. J. Santos; J. -L. Feugeas; Ph. Nicolai; G. Malka; V. T. Tikhonchuk; P. McKenna; D. Neely; S. J. Rose; P. A. Norreys

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.015001

Controlling fast-electron-beam divergence using two laser pulses

R. H. H. Scott, C. Beaucourt, H. -P. Schlenvoigt, K. Markey, K. L. Lancaster, C. P. Ridgers, C. M. Brenner, J. Pasley, R. J. Gray, I. O. Musgrave, A. P. L. Robinson, K. Li, M. M. Notley, J. R. Davies, S. D. Baton, J. J. Santos, J. -L. Feugeas, Ph. Nicolai, G. Malka, V. T. TikhonchukP. McKenna, D. Neely, S. J. Rose, P. A. Norreys

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

41 Citations (Scopus)

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.

Original language	English
Article number	015001
Number of pages	5
Journal	Physical Review Letters
Volume	109
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.015001
Publication status	Published - 6 Jul 2012

Keywords

vulcan petawatt
facility
ignition
preamplifier
high-gain
fast-electron-beam
divergence
two laser pulses
control

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10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.015001

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Cite this

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, P., Malka, G., ... Norreys, P. A. (2012). Controlling fast-electron-beam divergence using two laser pulses. Physical Review Letters, 109(1), [015001]. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.015001

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. / Controlling fast-electron-beam divergence using two laser pulses. In: Physical Review Letters. 2012 ; Vol. 109, No. 1.

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title = "Controlling fast-electron-beam divergence using two laser pulses",

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.",

keywords = "vulcan petawatt , facility, ignition , preamplifier, high-gain, fast-electron-beam , divergence, two laser pulses, control",

author = "Scott, {R. H. H.} and C. Beaucourt and Schlenvoigt, {H. -P.} and K. Markey and Lancaster, {K. L.} and Ridgers, {C. P.} and Brenner, {C. M.} and J. Pasley and Gray, {R. J.} and Musgrave, {I. O.} and Robinson, {A. P. L.} and K. Li and Notley, {M. M.} and Davies, {J. R.} and Baton, {S. D.} and Santos, {J. J.} and Feugeas, {J. -L.} and Ph. Nicolai and G. Malka and Tikhonchuk, {V. T.} and P. McKenna and D. Neely and Rose, {S. J.} and Norreys, {P. A.}",

year = "2012",

month = jul,

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doi = "10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.015001",

language = "English",

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Scott, RHH, Beaucourt, C, Schlenvoigt, H-P, Markey, K, Lancaster, KL, Ridgers, CP, Brenner, CM, Pasley, J, Gray, RJ, Musgrave, IO, Robinson, APL, Li, K, Notley, MM, Davies, JR, Baton, SD, Santos, JJ, Feugeas, J-L, Nicolai, P, Malka, G, Tikhonchuk, VT, McKenna, P , Neely, D, Rose, SJ & Norreys, PA 2012, 'Controlling fast-electron-beam divergence using two laser pulses', Physical Review Letters, vol. 109, no. 1, 015001. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.015001

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

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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

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DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.015001

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