Yoshiaki Kato

Bio: Yoshiaki Kato is an academic researcher from Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The author has contributed to research in topics: Laser & X-ray laser. The author has an hindex of 37, co-authored 215 publications receiving 5696 citations. Previous affiliations of Yoshiaki Kato include Max Planck Society & Osaka University.

Random Phasing of High-Power Lasers for Uniform Target Acceleration and Plasma-Instability Suppression

Abstract: By converting a coherent wave to a random-phased wave, the intensity profile on a target becomes easily controllable. Planar as well as spherical targets were irradiated for the first time by the random-phased wave. The targets were uniformly accelerated without being affected by the small-scale intensity nonuniformities. The $\frac{3}{2}$-harmonic emission shows that the plasma waves at $\frac{{n}_{c}}{4}$ are only weakly excited in a spherical plasma. Irradiation with short-wavelength, random-phased beams will be suitable for compression.

Petawatt and exawatt class lasers worldwide

Abstract: In the 2015 review paper 'Petawatt Class Lasers Worldwide' a comprehensive overview of the current status of highpower facilities of >200 TW was presented. This was largely based on facility specifications, with some description of their uses, for instance in fundamental ultra-high-intensity interactions, secondary source generation, and inertial confinement fusion (ICF). With the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics being awarded to Professors Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou for the development of the technique of chirped pulse amplification (CPA), which made these lasers possible, we celebrate by providing a comprehensive update of the current status of ultra-high-power lasers and demonstrate how the technology has developed. We are now in the era of multi-petawatt facilities coming online, with 100 PW lasers being proposed and even under construction. In addition to this there is a pull towards development of industrial and multidisciplinary applications, which demands much higher repetition rates, delivering high-average powers with higher efficiencies and the use of alternative wavelengths: mid-IR facilities. So apart from a comprehensive update of the current global status, we want to look at what technologies are to be deployed to get to these new regimes, and some of the critical issues facing their development.

Classification of geomagnetic micropulsations

Abstract: The notation and classification of geomagnetic micropulsations have been discussed in two recent letters in this Journal [Matsushita, 1963; Jacobs et al., 1963]. At the 13th General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) in Berkeley, California, August 1963, the question was considered in some detail by Committee 10 of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (IAGA). A small subcommittee, consisting of the four authors of this note, was set up to submit the recommendations which are presented below. From experimental knowledge, particularly that obtained since the IGY, it has been recognized that micropulsations can be divided into two main classes: those of a regular and mainly continuous character, and those with an irregular pattern. The first class covers the whole range of micropulsations with periods from about 0.2 to 600 sec. They can be divided into subgroups depending on their period, but it is extremely difficult to decide where the boundaries should be drawn. A purely mathematical division can be made, based perhaps on a logarithmic scale, or a division can be based on their physical and morphological properties. The second approach was adopted, and Table 1 gives the proposed classification and notation.

Observation of ultrahigh gradient electron acceleration by a self-modulated intense short laser pulse.

Abstract: A laser pulse with a power of $\ensuremath{\sim}3$ TW and a duration of 1 ps has been focused onto a gas. Ultrahigh-gradient electron acceleration has been observed in the laser-produced plasma with a density of $\ensuremath{\sim}{10}^{19}$ c${\mathrm{m}}^{\char21{}3}$ when injecting 1 MeV $/c$ electrons. The simulation of the laser-plasma interaction revealed the existence of ultrahigh-gradient wake fields excited due to self-modulation of the laser pulse and its electron acceleration, consistent with the experimental results.

Proposed double-layer target for the generation of high-quality laser-accelerated ion beams.

Abstract: In order to achieve a high-quality, i.e., monoenergetic, intense ion beam, we propose the use of a double-layer target. The first layer, at the target front, consists of high-Z atoms, while the second (rear) layer is a thin coating of low-Z atoms. The generation of high-quality proton beams from the double-layer target, irradiated by an ultraintense laser pulse, is demonstrated with three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.

Fast parallel algorithms for short-range molecular dynamics

Abstract: Three parallel algorithms for classical molecular dynamics are presented. The first assigns each processor a fixed subset of atoms; the second assigns each a fixed subset of inter-atomic forces to compute; the third assigns each a fixed spatial region. The algorithms are suitable for molecular dynamics models which can be difficult to parallelize efficiently—those with short-range forces where the neighbors of each atom change rapidly. They can be implemented on any distributed-memory parallel machine which allows for message-passing of data between independently executing processors. The algorithms are tested on a standard Lennard-Jones benchmark problem for system sizes ranging from 500 to 100,000,000 atoms on several parallel supercomputers--the nCUBE 2, Intel iPSC/860 and Paragon, and Cray T3D. Comparing the results to the fastest reported vectorized Cray Y-MP and C90 algorithm shows that the current generation of parallel machines is competitive with conventional vector supercomputers even for small problems. For large problems, the spatial algorithm achieves parallel efficiencies of 90% and a 1840-node Intel Paragon performs up to 165 faster than a single Cray C9O processor. Trade-offs between the three algorithms and guidelines for adapting them to more complex molecular dynamics simulations are also discussed.

Intense few-cycle laser fields: Frontiers of nonlinear optics

Abstract: The rise time of intense radiation determines the maximum field strength atoms can be exposed to before their polarizability dramatically drops due to the detachment of an outer electron. Recent progress in ultrafast optics has allowed the generation of ultraintense light pulses comprising merely a few field oscillation cycles. The arising intensity gradient allows electrons to survive in their bound atomic state up to external field strengths many times higher than the binding Coulomb field and gives rise to ionization rates comparable to the light frequency, resulting in a significant extension of the frontiers of nonlinear optics and (nonrelativistic) high-field physics. Implications include the generation of coherent harmonic radiation up to kiloelectronvolt photon energies and control of the atomic dipole moment on a subfemtosecond $(1{\mathrm{f}\mathrm{s}=10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}15}\mathrm{}\mathrm{s})$ time scale. This review presents the landmarks of the 30-odd-year evolution of ultrashort-pulse laser physics and technology culminating in the generation of intense few-cycle light pulses and discusses the impact of these pulses on high-field physics. Particular emphasis is placed on high-order harmonic emission and single subfemtosecond extreme ultraviolet/x-ray pulse generation. These as well as other strong-field processes are governed directly by the electric-field evolution, and hence their full control requires access to the (absolute) phase of the light carrier. We shall discuss routes to its determination and control, which will, for the first time, allow access to the electromagnetic fields in light waves and control of high-field interactions with never-before-achieved precision.

Development of the indirect‐drive approach to inertial confinement fusion and the target physics basis for ignition and gain

Abstract: Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) is an approach to fusion that relies on the inertia of the fuel mass to provide confinement. To achieve conditions under which inertial confinement is sufficient for efficient thermonuclear burn, a capsule (generally a spherical shell) containing thermonuclear fuel is compressed in an implosion process to conditions of high density and temperature. ICF capsules rely on either electron conduction (direct drive) or x rays (indirect drive) for energy transport to drive an implosion. In direct drive, the laser beams (or charged particle beams) are aimed directly at a target. The laser energy is transferred to electrons by means of inverse bremsstrahlung or a variety of plasma collective processes. In indirect drive, the driver energy (from laser beams or ion beams) is first absorbed in a high‐Z enclosure (a hohlraum), which surrounds the capsule. The material heated by the driver emits x rays, which drive the capsule implosion. For optimally designed targets, 70%–80% of the d...

The physics basis for ignition using indirect-drive targets on the National Ignition Facility

Abstract: The 1990 National Academy of Science final report of its review of the Inertial Confinement Fusion Program recommended completion of a series of target physics objectives on the 10-beam Nova laser at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as the highest-priority prerequisite for proceeding with construction of an ignition-scale laser facility, now called the National Ignition Facility (NIF). These objectives were chosen to demonstrate that there was sufficient understanding of the physics of ignition targets that the laser requirements for laboratory ignition could be accurately specified. This research on Nova, as well as additional research on the Omega laser at the University of Rochester, is the subject of this review. The objectives of the U.S. indirect-drive target physics program have been to experimentally demonstrate and predictively model hohlraum characteristics, as well as capsule performance in targets that have been scaled in key physics variables from NIF targets. To address the hohlrau...