Flexible tape-drive target system for secondary high-intensity laser-driven sources

Journal Article · 19 December 2023 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0180715 · OSTI ID:2326146

Zeraouli, Ghassan  ^[1]; Mariscal, Derek A.  ^[2]; Hollinger, Reed  ^[3]; Anaraki, S. Zahedpour ^[3]; Folsom, Eric N.  ^[2]; Grace, Elizabeth  ^[2]; Rusby, Dean  ^[2]; Hill, Matthew P.  ^[2]; Williams, Gerald Jackson  ^[2]; Scott, Graeme G.  ^[4]; Sullivan, Bryan  ^[5]; Wang, S. ^[3]; King, J. ^[3]; Swanson, Kelly K.  ^[2]; Simpson, Raspberry A.  ^[2]; Djordjevic, Blagoje Z.  ^[2]; Andrews, David Scott  ^[2]; Costa, R. ^[2]; Cauble, B. ^[2]; Albert, Felicie  ^[2] ; Rocca, J. J. ^[5]; Ma, Tammy  ^[2]

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1. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States); Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
3. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States)
4. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), Oxford (United Kingdom). Rutherford Appleton Lab. (RAL)
5. Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins, CO (United States); XUV Lasers, Inc., Fort Collins, CO (United States)

Here, we present the development of a flexible tape-drive target system to generate and control secondary high-intensity laser-plasma sources. Its adjustable design permits the generation of relativistic MeV particles and x rays at high-intensity (i.e., ≥1 × 10¹⁸ W cm^—2) laser facilities, at high repetition rates (>1 Hz). The compact and robust structure shows good mechanical stability and a high target placement accuracy (<4 μm RMS). Its compact and flexible design allows for mounting in both the horizontal and vertical planes, which makes it practical for use in cluttered laser-plasma experimental setups. The design permits ~170° of access on the laser-driver side and 120° of diagnostic access at the rear. A range of adapted apertures have been designed and tested to be easily implemented to the targetry system. The design and performance testing of the tape-drive system in the context of two experiments performed at the COMET laser facility at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and at the Advanced Lasers and Extreme Photonics (ALEPH) facility at Colorado State University are discussed. Experimental data showing that the designed prototype is also able to both generate and focus high-intensity laser-driven protons at high repetition rates are also presented.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)
• Grant/Contract Number: AC52-07NA27344; SC0019076
• OSTI ID: 2326146
• Report Number(s): LLNL-JRNL-856290; 1084937
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Journal Name: Review of Scientific Instruments Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 94; ISSN 0034-6748
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English