Ionization Waves of Arbitrary Velocity

Turnbull, D.; Franke, P.; Katz, J.; Palastro, J. P.; Begishev, I. A.; Boni, R.; Bromage, J.; Milder, A. L.; Shaw, J. L.; Froula, D. H.

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.225001

Title: Ionization Waves of Arbitrary Velocity

Journal Article · Thu May 31 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.225001· OSTI ID:1444062

Turnbull, D. ^[1]; Franke, P. ^[1]; Katz, J. ^[1]; Palastro, J. P. ^[1]; Begishev, I. A. ^[1]; Boni, R. ^[1]; Bromage, J. ^[1]; Milder, A. L. ^[1]; Shaw, J. L. ^[1]; Froula, D. H. ^[1]

Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States)

The flying focus is a technique in which a chirped laser beam is focused by a chromatic lens to produce an extended focal spot within which laser intensity can propagate at any velocity. If the intensity is above the ionization threshold of a background gas, an ionization wave will track the ionization threshold intensity isosurface as it propagates. We report on the demonstration of such ionization waves of arbitrary velocity. Subluminal and superluminal ionization fronts were produced, both forward- and backward-propagating relative to the ionizing laser. In conclusion, all backward and all superluminal cases mitigated the issue of ionization-induced refraction that typically challenges the formation of long, contiguous plasma channels.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0001944; SC0016253

OSTI ID:: 1444062

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1439740

Journal Information:: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 120, Issue 22; ISSN 0031-9007

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 28 works

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