Petawatt Laser Data Analysis and Technology Development

Key, M.H. ; Perry, M.D.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

关键词: Data Analysis;    Nova Facility;    70 Plasma Physics And Fusion Technology;    Electrons;    71 Classical And Quantum Mechanics, General Physics;   

DOI  :  10.2172/802584
RP-ID  :  UCRL-ID-140366
RP-ID  :  W-7405-Eng-48
RP-ID  :  802584

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

The Petawatt (PW) laser beam line at the LLNL Nova laser facility was unique in the world in supplying an order of magnitude higher power (1PW in pulses of 500 fs duration) than lasers elsewhere. Focused to intensities reaching 3 x l0{sup 20} Wcm{sup -2}, it opened up a new regime of experimental science where free electron energies in the light wave are strongly relativistic. After full operational capability of the PW beam-line was reached, close to 25% of the operation of the Nova facility was dedicated to PW shots for two years, prior to the shut down of Nova in May 1999. A wealth of novel scientific data was obtained and it motivated the primary objective of this June 1 to Oct. 1, 1999 LDRD, which was to complete systematic analysis of the PW laser data. This was done by the team, which had conducted the experiments working with associated experts in theoretical modeling of the complex physical phenomena. A second objective was to develop a key new technology of large area transmission gratings needed for the next step to higher energy PW laser development. This work was done by the team, which developed the reflective grating technology.