Self-aligning concave relativistic plasma mirror with adjustable focus
- Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Physics Dept.
- Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Inst. for Fusion Studies and Center for High Energy Density Science
- Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Physics Dept. and Inst. for Fusion Studies
We report an experimental-computational study of the optical properties of plasma mirrors (PMs) at the incident laser frequency when irradiated directly at relativistic intensity (10180<1019W/cm2) by near-normally incident (4°), high-contrast, 30 fs, 800 nm laser pulses. We find that such relativistic PMs are highly reflective (0.6–0.8) and focus a significant fraction of reflected light to intensity as large as ~10I0 at distance f as small as ~25 μm from the PM, provided that pre-pulses do not exceed 1014 W/cm2 prior to ~20 ps before arrival of the main pulse peak. Particle-in-cell simulations show that focusing results from denting of the reflecting surface by light pressure combined with relativistic transparency and that reflectivity and f can be adjusted by controlling pre-plasma length L over the range 0.5 ≲L ≲ 3 μm. Pump-probe reflectivity measurements show that the PM's focusing properties evolve on a ps time scale.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0012444; SC0011617; FA9550-14-1-0045; SC0007889; SC001062; 2; FC52-08NA28512; NA0002008; FG02-04ER54742; EP/G054940/1; EP/G055165/1; EP/G056803/1; AC05-06OR23100
- OSTI ID:
- 1361715
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1420500; OSTI ID: 1425378
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Vol. 24 Journal Issue: 1; ISSN 1070-664X
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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