A Novel Femtosecond-gated, High-resolution, Frequency-shifted Shearing Interferometry Technique for Probing Pre-plasma Expansion in Ultra-intense Laser Experiments
Abstract
Ultra-intense laser-matter interaction experiments (greater than 10(18) W/cm(2)) with dense targets are highly sensitive to the effect of laser noise (in the form of pre-pulses) preceding the main ultra-intense pulse. These system-dependent pre-pulses in the nanosecond and/or picosecond regimes are often intense enough to modify the target significantly by ionizing and forming a plasma layer in front of the target before the arrival of the main pulse. Time resolved interferometry offers a robust way to characterize the expanding plasma during this period. We have developed a novel pump-probe interferometry system for an ultra-intense laser experiment that uses two short-pulse amplifiers synchronized by one ultra-fast seed oscillator to achieve 40-fs time resolution over hundreds of nanoseconds, using a variable delay line and other techniques.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 17, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA616582
Entities
People
- C. Orban
- Enam Chowdhury
- J. T. Morrison
- John Nees
- Kyle Frische
- Scott Feister
- W. M. Roquemore
Organizations
- University of Michigan