Ellipsoidal plasma mirror focusing of high power laser pulses to ultra-high intensities

Wilson, R.; King, M.; Gray, R.J.; Carroll, D.C.; Dance, R.J.; Armstrong, C.; Hawkes, S.J.; Clarke, R.J.; Robertson, D.J.; Neely, D.; McKenna, P.

Abstract

The design and development of an ellipsoidal F/1 focusing plasmamirror capable of increasing the peak intensity achievable on petawatt level laser systems to is presented. A factor of 2.5 reduction in the focal spot size is achieved when compared to F/3 focusing with a conventional (solid state) optic. We find a factor of 3.6 enhancement in peak intensity, taking into account changes in plasmamirrorreflectivity and focal spot quality. The sensitivity of the focusing plasmaoptic to misalignment is also investigated. It is demonstrated that an increase in the peak laser intensity from to 1021 W cm−2 results in a factor of 2 increase in the maximum energy of sheath-accelerated protons from a thin foil positioned at the focus of the intense laser light.

Citation

Wilson, R., King, M., Gray, R., Carroll, D., Dance, R., Armstrong, C., …McKenna, P. (2016). Ellipsoidal plasma mirror focusing of high power laser pulses to ultra-high intensities. Physics of Plasmas, 23(3), Article 033106. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4943200

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 22, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Mar 7, 2016
• Publication Date: Mar 7, 2016
• Deposit Date: Mar 8, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 7, 2017
• Journal: Physics of Plasmas
• Print ISSN: 1070-664X
• Electronic ISSN: 1089-7674
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 3
• Article Number: 033106
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4943200
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1386677