Showing papers by "Gerard Mourou published in 2012"
TL;DR: In this article, a new amplification method, weaving the three basic compression techniques, Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA), Optical Parametric (OPCPA) and Plasma Compression by Backward Raman Amplification(BRA) in plasma, is proposed.
126 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the ability to coherently control the collective attosecond dynamics of relativistic electrons driven through a plasma by an intense laser represents an important step in the development of techniques to manipulate and study extreme states of matter.
Abstract: A demonstration of the ability to coherently control the collective attosecond dynamics of relativistic electrons driven through a plasma by an intense laser represents an important step in the development of techniques to manipulate and study extreme states of matter.
86 citations
10 Jul 2012
TL;DR: The "Institut de Lumie´re Extreme" as mentioned in this paper provides a unique laser-based facility delivering 150 J, 15 fs pulses at 1 shot per minute repetition rate allowing to investigate an unexplored domain of laser-matter interaction at 1023 - 1024 W/cm2 intensity level.
Abstract: The objective of the "Institut de Lumie`re Extreme" consists in providing early in 2014 to the international scientific community an unique laser based facility delivering 150 J, 15 fs pulses at 1 shot per minute repetition rate allowing to investigate an unexplored domain of laser-matter interaction at 1023 - 1024 W/cm2 intensity level.
41 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a theoretical model of second-harmonic generation under strong influence of cubic nonlinearity was verified in experiment and the double-pass geometry of SHG in an ultrathin crystal on a substrate was discussed in detail.
Abstract: A theoretical model of second-harmonic generation (SHG) under strong influence of cubic nonlinearity was verified in experiment. Effective energy conversion in thin potassium dihydrogen phosphate crystals at peak intensity up to 5 TW/cm2 (B-integral equaled 6.4) was demonstrated and no crystal damage was observed. Comparative analysis of SHG of radiation at the fundamental wavelengths of 910 and 800 nm showed the major advantages of the first one. The double-pass geometry of SHG in an ultrathin crystal on a substrate is discussed in detail. Additional correction of parabolic spectral phase of the SH radiation allows pulse duration to be shortened from 20 to 9 fs for 910 nm fundamental wavelength and from 20 to 12 fs for 800 nm.
31 citations
06 May 2012
TL;DR: In this paper, an imaging technique based around Gaussian beam-mode coupling is presented to visualize the obscured painting. But the technique is limited to the case of paintings at Catalhoyuk, Turkey, which are hidden under uneven covering layers of plaster.
Abstract: Portions of Neolithic paintings at Catalhoyuk, Turkey, are hidden under uneven covering layers of plaster. Traditional terahertz data analysis has proven unsuccessful at subsurface imaging of these paintings. An imaging technique is presented, based around Gaussian beam-mode coupling, to visualize the obscured painting.
17 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors introduce a research initiative for fundamental physics with a rationale to take advantage of the recent growth of world-wide movements such as ELI and IZEST in constructing high-intensity laser facilities.
Abstract: We introduce a research initiative for fundamental physics with a rationale to take advantage of the recent growth of world-wide movements such as ELI and IZEST in constructing high-intensity laser facilities. The three major directions on the fundamental physics research are discussed. §1. Domains of manifestation of physical laws
13 citations
Journal Article•
10 citations
10 Jul 2012
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a photo-fusion magnetic device for high neutron production, which is capable of producing up to 109-1010 neutrons per laser shot with an external magnetic field of 150 Tesla.
Abstract: In the last few years significant progress on technological, experimental and numerical studies on fusion process in high density and high temperature plasmas produced by a high intensity laser pulse interaction with clusters in a high external applied magnetic field, enable us to propose a compact photo-fusion magnetic device for high neutron production. For the purpose of the project a pulsed magnetic field driver with values up to 110 Tesla has been developed which allows increasing the trapping time of the high density plasma in the device and improving the neutron yield. Numerical simulations show that the proposed device is capable of producing up to 109-1010 neutrons per laser shot with an external magnetic field of 150 Tesla. The proposed device can be used for experiments and numerical code validation concerning different conventional and (or) exotic fusion fuels.
5 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors extended the conjecture to the case of relativistic electron bunches as the laser's radiating medium (free-electron laser), which bolsters the understanding of the underlying physical principle of the Conjecture.
Abstract: The recent remark by G. Mourou and T. Tajima (Science 331, 41 (2011)) on the intensity of the driver laser pulse and the duration of the created pulse that higher driver beam intensities are needed to reach shorter pulses of radiation remains a conjecture without clear theoretical reasoning so far. Here we offer its extension to the case of relativistic electron bunches as the laser's radiating medium (free-electron laser). This also bolsters the understanding of the underlying physical principle of the Conjecture.
2 citations
TL;DR: The International Center for Zettaand Exawatt Science and Technology (IZEST) as mentioned in this paper was proposed by the French atomic energy commission (CEA) and the École Polytechnique in September 2011.
Abstract: The European Commission’s planned Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI)1 has built a compelling scientific case2 for the relevance of ultra-intense lasers to fundamental physics and its applications, such as high-energy particle acceleration and bright gamma rays. Based on the original vision of exaand zettawatt (1018 and 1021W) lasers,3 we developed the intensitypulse duration conjecture,4 which unifies high laser intensity with high-energy density by way of ultrahigh peak power in the exawatt–zettawatt regime and ultrashort pulses in the yocto–zeptosecond (10 24–10 21s) regime. In other words, if we wish to go beyond the current attosecond (10 18s) science into zeptosecond physics, we will need to increase laser intensity. In this same vein, the International Center for Zettaand Exawatt Science and Technology (IZEST), a new concept proposed by the French atomic energy commission (CEA) and the École Polytechnique in September 2011, would provide a fresh impulse to large-scale laser infrastructure projects and reaffirm their importance (see Figure 1).5 Moreover, it would support advanced laser applications in a range of fields from materials science to medicine requiring electron energies that are not economically feasible using current accelerator technology. In the time domain, the aim is to produce extremely short pulses with durations in attoto zeptoseconds associated with large fields to reach the needed intensities. IZEST will gather together the world’s top researchers in laser science, plasma physics, nuclear physics, high-energy physics, general relativity, and the like. Such a center represents a plausible opportunity to carry out first attempts at 100GeV (1011eV) laser wakefield acceleration of electrons, the search for novel fields (such as dark matter and dark energy) by copious laser photons, and acceleration Figure 1. Intensity evolution since the first laser demonstration in 1960, with the different regimes of optics and electrodynamics. Red part of line represents the regime addressed by the proposed International Center for Zettaand Exawatt Science and Technology (IZEST). Black boxes (joules) indicate typical laser energies. Blue boxes (electron volts) indicate typical particle energies. QCD: Quantum chromodynamics. QED: Quantum electrodynamics. E: Electric field. e: Electron charge. c: Compton wavelength. m0: Electron mass. c: Speed of light. Ep: Proton energy. mp: Proton mass. Ee: Electron energy. C3: Cascaded conversion compression. ELI: Extreme Light Infrastructure. ILE: Institut de la Lumière Extrême. CUOS: Center for Ultrafast Optical Science. HHG: High harmonic generation. CPA: Chirped pulse amplification. (Courtesy G. Mourou.)
1 citations
06 May 2012
TL;DR: In this article, a change in the angle of emission was found to be beneficial in efficient isolated attosecond pulse production, where the laser plasma interaction reveals harmonic divergence <4 degrees and increasing with defocus.
Abstract: Laser plasma interaction reveals harmonic divergence <4 degrees and increasing with defocus. Circular polarization was found to cause a change in the angle of emission, which may be beneficial in efficient isolated attosecond pulse production.