Moderate repetition rate ultra-intense laser targets and optics using variable thickness liquid crystal films
Abstract
Liquid crystal films are variable thickness, planar targets for ultra-intense laser matter experiments such as ion acceleration. Their target qualities also make them ideal for high-power laser optics such as plasma mirrors and waveplates. By controlling parameters of film formation, thickness can be varied on-demand from 10 nm to above 50 μm, enabling real-time optimization of laser interactions. Presented here are results using a device that draws films from a bulk liquid crystal source volume with any thickness in the aforementioned range. Films form within 2 μm of the same location each time, well within the Rayleigh range of even tight F/# systems, thus removing the necessity for realignment between shots. The repetition rate of the device exceeds 0.1 Hz for sub-100 nm films, facilitating higher repetition rate operation of modern laser facilities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Oct 10, 2016
- Source ID
- 10.1063/1.4964841
Entities
People
- C. D. Andereck
- C. Willis
- D. W. Schumacher
- Ginevra Cochran
- Patrick Poole
- R. T. Hanna
Organizations
- National Nuclear Security Administration
- Ohio State University