Flying focus: Spatial and temporal control of intensity for laser-based applications

Froula, D. H.; Palastro, J. P.; Turnbull, D.; Davies, A.; Nguyen, L.; Howard, A.; Ramsey, D.; Franke, P.; Bahk, S. -W.; Begishev, I. A.; Boni, R.; Bromage, J.; Bucht, S.; Follett, R. K.; Haberberger, D.; Jenkins, G. W.; Katz, J.; Kessler, T. J.; Shaw, J. L.; Vieira, J.

doi:10.1063/1.5086308

Flying focus: Spatial and temporal control of intensity for laser-based applications

Journal Article · Wed Mar 20 00:00:00 EDT 2019 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5086308· OSTI ID:1502402

^[1]; ^[2]; ^[2]; ^[2]; Nguyen, L. ^[2]; ^[2]; Ramsey, D. ^[2]; Franke, P. ^[2]; Bahk, S. -W. ^[2]; Begishev, I. A. ^[2]; Boni, R. ^[2]; Bromage, J. ^[2]; Bucht, S. ^[2]; Follett, R. K. ^[2]; Haberberger, D. ^[2]; ^[2]; Katz, J. ^[2]; Kessler, T. J. ^[2]; Shaw, J. L. ^[2]; ^[3]

Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States); Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States)
Univ. de Lisboa, Lisbon (Portugal)

An advanced focusing scheme, called a "flying focus," uses a chromatic focusing system combined with a broadband laser pulse with its colors arranged in time to propagate a high intensity focus over a distance that can be much greater than its Rayleigh length, while decoupling the speed at which the peak intensity propagates from its group velocity. The flying focus generates a short effective pulse duration with a small diameter focal spot that co- or counter-propagates along the optical axis at any velocity. Experiments validating the concept measured subluminal (–0.09c) to superluminal (39c) focal spot velocities with a nearly constant peak intensity over 4.5 mm. Experiments that increased the peak intensity above the ionization threshold for gas demonstrated ionization waves propagating at the velocity of the flying focus. Here these ionization waves of any velocity overcome several laser-plasma propagation issues, including ionization-induced refraction. The flying focus presents opportunities to overcome current fundamental limitations in laser-plasma amplifilers, laser wakefield accelerators, photon accelerators, and high-order frequency conversion.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

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

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

Contributing Organization:: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

Grant/Contract Number:: NA0001944

OSTI ID:: 1502402

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1501955

Report Number(s):: 2018-98, 1478; 2018-98, 1478, 2437

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 26; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Dephasingless Laser Wakefield Acceleration Palastro, J. P.; Shaw, J. L.; Franke, P. Physical Review Letters, Vol. 124, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.124.134802	journal	March 2020

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