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Demonstration of a Horseshoe-Shaped Longitudinal Focal Profile

Journal Article · · Journal of the Optical Society of America B
 [1]; ; ;
  1. Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY

The three-dimensional laser focal region has been spatially shaped so that in the focal plane the transverse intensity distribution is centrally peaked, whereas at multiple defocused planes along the laser propagation direction, the distribution is annular. The longitudinal profile of such a shaped laser focal volume is approximately in the form of a “horseshoe.” The horseshoe-shaped longitudinal profile was realized experimentally from a single laser beam by the incoherent coaxial combination of Laguerre–Gaussian and Gaussian modes generated from segmented optical elements. The ponderomotive forces associated with this three-dimensional focal intensity distribution can potentially generate a quasi-collimated, forward-directed bunch of electrons from a low-density gas target at high laser intensities.

Research Organization:
Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
FC52-92SF19460
OSTI ID:
901280
Report Number(s):
DOE/SF/19460-737; 1698; 2006-173
Journal Information:
Journal of the Optical Society of America B, Journal Name: Journal of the Optical Society of America B Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 24
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English