| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/J90770/01 |
| Title: |
LARGE AMPLITUDE PLASMA WAVE GENERATION BY INTENSE PICOSECOND LASER PULSES |
| Principal Investigator: |
Dangor, Dr AE |
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| Department: |
Physics |
| Organisation: |
Imperial College London |
| Scheme: |
Standard Research (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
29 September 1994 |
Ends: |
28 October 1996 |
Value (£): |
204,059
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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The application of chirped pulse amplification techniques on the VULCAN and Sprite systems produces laser pulses of high power (>20 TW) and short duration (5 ps). Focused to an intensity of the order 1018W cm-2, where the electron quiver velocity is relativistic, the lasers will be used to generate plasma waves which grow unhindered by ion dynamics to amplitudes close to the wave breaking limit _n/n=1). Three techniques will be investigated: (i) the beat-wave where two lasers, one of short (ps) duration and the other long (~100ps) and frequency difference equal to the plasma frequency, copropagate in a plasma; (ii) the laser wake-field where a single laser whose pulse duration (~100fs) is such that p ~1; (iii) the self-resonant technique where a single short pulse laser of high power is modulated by relativistic self-focusing at the plasma frequency. In all three schemes the plasma wave is generated by the ponderomotive forces associated with the laser beam. The plasma is underdense and thus the plasma wave is relativistic and may be used to accelerate electrons. The plasma will be produced by laser ionisation of hydrogen gas. Both ambient gas fill and a gas jet will be used. The investigations will include the use of laser focal spots of the order c/ p to assess the role of 2-d effects. The work will be closely supported by theory and simulation. Some development of the laser facility will be necessary.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.imperial.ac.uk |