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Angelo Schiavi

Bio: Angelo Schiavi is an academic researcher from Sapienza University of Rome. The author has contributed to research in topics: Laser & Plasma. The author has an hindex of 33, co-authored 135 publications receiving 3936 citations. Previous affiliations of Angelo Schiavi include Helmholtz Institute Jena & Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a wide range of laser-plasma interaction conditions of relevance for inertial confinement fusion (ICF)/fast ignition has been explored, including the electric field distribution in laser-produced long-scale plasmas of ICF interest, the measurement of highly transient electric fields related to the generation and dynamics of hot electron currents following ultra-intense laser irradiation of targets, and the observation in underdense Plasmas, after the...
Abstract: Due to their particular properties, the beams of the multi-MeV protons generated during the interaction of ultraintense (I>1019 W/cm2) short pulses with thin solid targets are most suited for use as a particle probe in laser-plasma experiments. The recently developed proton imaging technique employs the beams in a point-projection imaging scheme as a diagnostic tool for the detection of electric fields in laser-plasma interaction experiments. In recent investigations carried out at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL, UK), a wide range of laser-plasma interaction conditions of relevance for inertial confinement fusion (ICF)/fast ignition has been explored. Among the results obtained will be discussed: the electric field distribution in laser-produced long-scale plasmas of ICF interest; the measurement of highly transient electric fields related to the generation and dynamics of hot electron currents following ultra-intense laser irradiation of targets; the observation in underdense plasmas, after the ...

375 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It has been shown that the protons are emitted, in a quasilaminar fashion, from a region of transverse size of the order of 100-200 microm, which is equivalent to those of a much smaller source located several hundred microm in front of the foil.
Abstract: A study of the properties of multi-MeV proton emission from thin foils following ultraintense laser irradiation has been carried out. It has been shown that the protons are emitted, in a quasilaminar fashion, from a region of transverse size of the order of 100-200 microm. The imaging properties of the proton source are equivalent to those of a much smaller source located several hundred microm in front of the foil. This finding has been obtained by analyzing proton radiographs of periodically structured test objects, and is corroborated by observations of proton emission from laser-heated thick targets.

286 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the acceleration of multi-MeV protons from the rear surface of thin solid foils irradiated by an intense ($\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{18}\text{ }\text{ W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$) and short (1.5
Abstract: The acceleration of multi-MeV protons from the rear surface of thin solid foils irradiated by an intense ($\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{18}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$) and short ($\ensuremath{\sim}1.5\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{ps}$) laser pulse has been investigated using transverse proton probing. The structure of the electric field driving the expansion of the proton beam has been resolved with high spatial and temporal resolution. The main features of the experimental observations, namely, an initial intense sheath field and a late time field peaking at the beam front, are consistent with the results from particle-in-cell and fluid simulations of thin plasma expansion into a vacuum.

240 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The experimental results are consistent with an electrostatic accelerating mechanism that requires an ultrashort scale length at the back of the target.
Abstract: The influence of the plasma density scale length on the production of MeV protons from thin foil targets irradiated at $I{\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{2}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{19}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{W}\mathrm{cm}{}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ has been studied. With an unperturbed foil, protons with energy $g20\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{MeV}$ were formed in an exponential energy spectrum with a temperature of $2.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3\mathrm{MeV}$. When a plasma with a scale length of $100\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ was preformed on the back of the foil, the maximum proton energy was reduced to $l5\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}\mathrm{MeV}$ and the beam was essentially destroyed. The experimental results are consistent with an electrostatic accelerating mechanism that requires an ultrashort scale length at the back of the target.

239 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a macroscopic bubble-like structure has been detected through the deflection that the associated electric charge separation causes in a proton probe beam, interpreted as the remnants of a cloud of relativistic solitons generated in the plasma by the ultraintense laser pulse.
Abstract: A novel physical phenomenon has been observed following the interaction of an intense $({10}^{19}\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2})$ laser pulse with an underdense plasma. Long-lived, macroscopic bubblelike structures have been detected through the deflection that the associated electric charge separation causes in a proton probe beam. These structures are interpreted as the remnants of a cloud of relativistic solitons generated in the plasma by the ultraintense laser pulse. This interpretation is supported by an analytical study of the soliton cloud evolution, by particle-in-cell simulations, and by a reconstruction of the proton-beam deflection.

189 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a number of consequences of relativistic-strength optical fields are surveyed, including wakefield generation, a relativistically version of optical rectification, in which longitudinal field effects could be as large as the transverse ones.
Abstract: The advent of ultraintense laser pulses generated by the technique of chirped pulse amplification (CPA) along with the development of high-fluence laser materials has opened up an entirely new field of optics. The electromagnetic field intensities produced by these techniques, in excess of ${10}^{18}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{W}∕{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, lead to relativistic electron motion in the laser field. The CPA method is reviewed and the future growth of laser technique is discussed, including the prospect of generating the ultimate power of a zettawatt. A number of consequences of relativistic-strength optical fields are surveyed. In contrast to the nonrelativistic regime, these laser fields are capable of moving matter more effectively, including motion in the direction of laser propagation. One of the consequences of this is wakefield generation, a relativistic version of optical rectification, in which longitudinal field effects could be as large as the transverse ones. In addition to this, other effects may occur, including relativistic focusing, relativistic transparency, nonlinear modulation and multiple harmonic generation, and strong coupling to matter and other fields (such as high-frequency radiation). A proper utilization of these phenomena and effects leads to the new technology of relativistic engineering, in which light-matter interactions in the relativistic regime drives the development of laser-driven accelerator science. A number of significant applications are reviewed, including the fast ignition of an inertially confined fusion target by short-pulsed laser energy and potential sources of energetic particles (electrons, protons, other ions, positrons, pions, etc.). The coupling of an intense laser field to matter also has implications for the study of the highest energies in astrophysics, such as ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays, with energies in excess of ${10}^{20}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{eV}$. The laser fields can be so intense as to make the accelerating field large enough for general relativistic effects (via the equivalence principle) to be examined in the laboratory. It will also enable one to access the nonlinear regime of quantum electrodynamics, where the effects of radiative damping are no longer negligible. Furthermore, when the fields are close to the Schwinger value, the vacuum can behave like a nonlinear medium in much the same way as ordinary dielectric matter expanded to laser radiation in the early days of laser research.

1,459 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a review of recent investigations on high-energy processes within the realm of relativistic quantum dynamics, quantum electrodynamics, and nuclear and particle physics, occurring in extremely intense laser fields is presented.
Abstract: The field of laser-matter interaction traditionally deals with the response of atoms, molecules, and plasmas to an external light wave. However, the recent sustained technological progress is opening up the possibility of employing intense laser radiation to trigger or substantially influence physical processes beyond atomic-physics energy scales. Available optical laser intensities exceeding ${10}^{22}\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ can push the fundamental light-electron interaction to the extreme limit where radiation-reaction effects dominate the electron dynamics, can shed light on the structure of the quantum vacuum, and can trigger the creation of particles such as electrons, muons, and pions and their corresponding antiparticles. Also, novel sources of intense coherent high-energy photons and laser-based particle colliders can pave the way to nuclear quantum optics and may even allow for the potential discovery of new particles beyond the standard model. These are the main topics of this article, which is devoted to a review of recent investigations on high-energy processes within the realm of relativistic quantum dynamics, quantum electrodynamics, and nuclear and particle physics, occurring in extremely intense laser fields.

1,394 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An overview of the state of the art of ion acceleration by laser pulses as well as an outlook on its future development and perspectives are given in this article. But the main features observed in the experiments, the observed scaling with laser and plasma parameters, and the main models used both to interpret experimental data and to suggest new research directions are described.
Abstract: Ion acceleration driven by superintense laser pulses is attracting an impressive and steadily increasing effort. Motivations can be found in the applicative potential and in the perspective to investigate novel regimes as available laser intensities will be increasing. Experiments have demonstrated, over a wide range of laser and target parameters, the generation of multi-MeV proton and ion beams with unique properties such as ultrashort duration, high brilliance, and low emittance. An overview is given of the state of the art of ion acceleration by laser pulses as well as an outlook on its future development and perspectives. The main features observed in the experiments, the observed scaling with laser and plasma parameters, and the main models used both to interpret experimental data and to suggest new research directions are described.

1,221 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, nuclear tracks in solids (Principles and Applications) nuclear technology: Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 91-92, were discussed and discussed in detail.
Abstract: (1976). Nuclear Tracks in Solids (Principles and Applications) Nuclear Technology: Vol. 30, No. 1, pp. 91-92.

973 citations