Terawatt Raman laser system for two-color laser plasma interactions
In some high-field laser-plasma experiments, it is advantageous to accompany the main high-energy (~1 J) laser with a second high-energy pulse (~0.1 J) which has been frequency-shifted by ~10-20%. Such a pulse-pair would have a low walk-off velocity while remaining spectrally distinct for use in two...
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ndltd-UTEXAS-oai-repositories.lib.utexas.edu-2152-260012015-09-20T17:25:30ZTerawatt Raman laser system for two-color laser plasma interactionsSanders, James ChristopherLaserPlasmaLaser-plasma interactionsLaser-plasma instabilitiesHigh-fieldOpticsRaman scatteringChirped pulse amplificationIn some high-field laser-plasma experiments, it is advantageous to accompany the main high-energy (~1 J) laser with a second high-energy pulse (~0.1 J) which has been frequency-shifted by ~10-20%. Such a pulse-pair would have a low walk-off velocity while remaining spectrally distinct for use in two-color pump-probe experiments. Moreover, by shifting the second pulse by ~plasma frequency, it is theoretically possible to exercise some amount of control over a variety of laser-plasma instabilities, including forward Raman scattering, electromagnetic cascading, and relativistic self-focusing. Alternatively, the two pulses may be counter-propagated so that the collide in the plasma and create a slowly-propagating beatwave which can be used to inject electrons into a laser wakefield accelerator. The design, characeterization, and performance of a hybrid chirped-pulse Raman amplifier (CPRA)/Ti-Sapphire amplifier are reported and discussed. This hybrid system allows for the generation of a high-energy (>200 mJ), broadband (15-20 nm bandwidth FWHM), short duration (>100 fs duration) laser sideband. When amplified and compressed, the Raman beam's power exceeds 1 TW. This sideband is combined with the primary laser system to create a bi-color terawatt laser system which is capable of performing two-color high-field experiments. This two-color capability can be added to any commercial terawatt laser system without compromising the energy, duration or beam quality of the primary system. Preliminary two-color laser-plasma experiments are also discussed.text2014-09-18T19:13:24Z2014-082014-07-16August 20142014-09-18T19:13:24ZThesisapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/2152/26001en |
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language |
en |
format |
Others
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Laser Plasma Laser-plasma interactions Laser-plasma instabilities High-field Optics Raman scattering Chirped pulse amplification |
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Laser Plasma Laser-plasma interactions Laser-plasma instabilities High-field Optics Raman scattering Chirped pulse amplification Sanders, James Christopher Terawatt Raman laser system for two-color laser plasma interactions |
description |
In some high-field laser-plasma experiments, it is advantageous to accompany the main high-energy (~1 J) laser with a second high-energy pulse (~0.1 J) which has been frequency-shifted by ~10-20%. Such a pulse-pair would have a low walk-off velocity while remaining spectrally distinct for use in two-color pump-probe experiments. Moreover, by shifting the second pulse by ~plasma frequency, it is theoretically possible to exercise some amount of control over a variety of laser-plasma instabilities, including forward Raman scattering, electromagnetic cascading, and relativistic self-focusing. Alternatively, the two pulses may be counter-propagated so that the collide in the plasma and create a slowly-propagating beatwave which can be used to inject electrons into a laser wakefield accelerator. The design, characeterization, and performance of a hybrid chirped-pulse Raman amplifier (CPRA)/Ti-Sapphire amplifier are reported and discussed. This hybrid system allows for the generation of a high-energy (>200 mJ), broadband (15-20 nm bandwidth FWHM), short duration (>100 fs duration) laser sideband. When amplified and compressed, the Raman beam's power exceeds 1 TW. This sideband is combined with the primary laser system to create a bi-color terawatt laser system which is capable of performing two-color high-field experiments. This two-color capability can be added to any commercial terawatt laser system without compromising the energy, duration or beam quality of the primary system. Preliminary two-color laser-plasma experiments are also discussed. === text |
author |
Sanders, James Christopher |
author_facet |
Sanders, James Christopher |
author_sort |
Sanders, James Christopher |
title |
Terawatt Raman laser system for two-color laser plasma interactions |
title_short |
Terawatt Raman laser system for two-color laser plasma interactions |
title_full |
Terawatt Raman laser system for two-color laser plasma interactions |
title_fullStr |
Terawatt Raman laser system for two-color laser plasma interactions |
title_full_unstemmed |
Terawatt Raman laser system for two-color laser plasma interactions |
title_sort |
terawatt raman laser system for two-color laser plasma interactions |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/2152/26001 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT sandersjameschristopher terawattramanlasersystemfortwocolorlaserplasmainteractions |
_version_ |
1716823934364549120 |