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Title: Atmospheric electromagnetic pulse propagation effects from thick targets in a terawatt laser target chamber

Journal Article · · Applied Optics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.46.006166· OSTI ID:21013607

Generation and effects of atmospherically propagated electromagnetic pulses (EMPs)initiated by photoelectrons ejected by the high density and temperature target surface plasmas from multiterawatt laser pulses are analyzed. These laser radiation pulse interactions can significantly increase noise levels, thereby obscuring data (sometimes totally) and may even damage sensitive probe and detection instrumentation. Noise effects from high energy density (approximately multiterawatt) laser pulses(?300-400 ps pulse widths)interacting with thick(?1 mm) metallic and dielectric solid targets anddielectric-metallic powder mixtures are interpreted as transient resonance radiation associated with surface charge fluctuations on the target chamber that functions as a radiating antenna. Effective solutions that minimize atmospheric EMP effects on internal and proximate electronic and electro-optical equipment external to the system based on systematic measurements using Moebius loop antennas, interpretations of signal periodicities, and dissipation indicators determining transient noise origin characteristics from target emissions are described.Analytic models for the effect of target chamber resonances and associated noise current and temperature in a probe diode laser are described.

OSTI ID:
21013607
Journal Information:
Applied Optics, Vol. 46, Issue 24; Other Information: DOI: 10.1364/AO.46.006166; (c) 2007 Optical Society of America; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6935
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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