Showing papers by "Gerard Mourou published in 2002"

Zettawatt-exawatt lasers and their applications in ultrastrong-field physics

Abstract: Since its birth, the laser has been extraordinarily effective in the study and applications of laser-matter interaction at the atomic and molecular level and in the nonlinear optics of the bound electron. In its early life, the laser was associated with the physics of electron volts and of the chemical bond. Over the past fifteen years, however, we have seen a surge in our ability to produce high intensities, 5 to 6 orders of magnitude higher than was possible before. At these intensities, particles, electrons, and protons acquire kinetic energy in the megaelectron-volt range through interaction with intense laser fields. This opens a new age for the laser, the age of nonlinear relativistic optics coupling even with nuclear physics. We suggest a path to reach an extremely high-intensity level ${10}^{26--28}\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ in the coming decade, much beyond the current and near future intensity regime ${10}^{23}\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, taking advantage of the megajoule laser facilities. Such a laser at extreme high intensity could accelerate particles to frontiers of high energy, teraelectron volt, and petaelectron volt, and would become a tool of fundamental physics encompassing particle physics, gravitational physics, nonlinear field theory, ultrahigh-pressure physics, astrophysics, and cosmology. We focus our attention on high-energy applications, in particular, and the possibility of merged reinforcement of high-energy physics and ultraintense laser.

High-energy ion generation in interaction. of short laser pulse with high-density plasma

Abstract: Multi-MeV ion production from the interaction of a short laser pulse with a high-density plasma, accompanied by an underdense preplasma, has been studied with a particle-in- cell simulation and good agreement is found with experiment. The mechanism primarily responsible for the acceleration of ions is identified. Comparison with experiments sheds light on the ion-energy dependence on laser intensity, preplasma scale length, and relative ion energies for a multi-species plasma. Two regimes of maximum ion-energy dependence on laser inten- sity, I, have been identified: subrelativistic, ∝ I; and relativistic, ∝ √ I. Simulations show that the energy of the accelerated ions versus the preplasma scale length increases linearly and then saturates. In contrast, the ion energy decreases with the thick- ness of the solid-density plasma.

Pulse contrast enhancement of high-energy pulses by use of a gas-filled hollow waveguide.

Abstract: Using nonlinear ellipse rotation in a gas-filled hollow waveguide, we have increased the pulse contrast of a microjoule femtosecond laser pulse by several orders of magnitude. This scheme offers a number of advantages over competing techniques, including a high degree of tunability that allows for a broad range of input pulse parameters, higher throughput, greater stability, and an output pulse with high spatial quality that is compressible to a quarter of the original temporal width.

On the design of experiments for the study of relativistic nonlinear optics in the limit of single-cycle pulse duration and single-wavelength spot size

Abstract: We propose a set of experiments with the aim of studying for the first time relativistic nonlinear optics in the fundamental limits of single-cycle pulse duration and single-wavelength spot size. The laser sys- tem that makes this work possible is now operating at the Center for Ultrafast Optical Science at the University of Michigan. Its high repetition rate (1 kHz) will make it possible to perform a detailed investigation of relativ- istic effects in this novel regime. This study has the potential to make the field of relativistic optics accessible to a wider community and to open the door for real-world applications of relativistic optics, such as electron/ion acceleration and neutron and positron production. © 2002 MAIK "Nauka/Interperiodica".

Directly diode-pumped Yb: KY(WO4)2 regenerative amplifiers

Abstract: Two Yb3+-doped KYWO42 regenerative amplifiers, one end pumped by two 1.6-W single-stripe diodes at 940 nm and the other side pumped by one 20-W diode bar at 980 nm, are demonstrated. When the regenerative amplifiers are injected, 40‐µJ, 400-fs and 65‐µJ, 460-fs pulses at a 1-kHz repetition rate are obtained following compression from the end- and side-pumped amplifiers, respectively.

Why ring regenerative amplification (regen)

Abstract: We show that ring cavity regenerative amplifiers (regens) have distinct advantages over the linear ones for applications in chirped pulse amplification. Larger energy, better contrast and better isolation from the oscillator are experimentally demonstrated.

Pulse contrast enhancement of high-energy pulses using a gas-filled hollow waveguide

Abstract: We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that the technique of nonlinear ellipse rotation in a gas-filled hollow waveguide greatly improves the contrast of microjoule-to-millijoule femtosecond laser pulses. This technique has numerous advantages over competing techniques and will facilitate the development of the next generation of ultra-high-peak power femtosecond laser systems.

Pulse contrast enhancement of high energy pulses using a gas-filled hollow waveguide

Abstract: We demonstrate that the technique of nonlinear ellipse rotation in a gas-filled hollow waveguide satisfies all the requirements for greatly improving the pulse contrast of microjoule-to-millijoule femtosecond laser pulses. We believe that this technique will facilitate the development of the next generation of ultra-high-peak power laser systems.

Near diffraction limited high-contrast 10 terawatt laser

Abstract: Summary from only given. We report on further progress in developing a Ti:sapphire high contrast laser, namely reaching a 10 TW milestone. Large output energy of the regenerative amplifier allows us to do this by amplifying the regenerative amplifier output pulse in a single 4-pass amplifier.

Relativistically driven micro-plasma X-ray source

Abstract: Summary from only given. We have reported on a microplasma X-ray source driven by a relativistically strong laser. This source has the potential to provide X-rays for high-resolution medical imaging and a short source for time-resolved X-ray studies.