Laser-hole boring into overdense plasmas measured with soft X-Ray laser probing

A laser self-focused channel formation into overdense plasmas was observed using a soft x-ray laser probe system with a grid image refractometry (GIR) technique. 1.053 m laser light with a 100 ps pulse duration was focused onto a preformed plasma at an intensity of 2x10(17) W/cm (2). Cross sections...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysical review letters Vol. 84; no. 11; p. 2405
Main Authors Takahashi, K, Kodama, R, Tanaka, KA, Hashimoto, H, Kato, Y, Mima, K, Weber, FA, Barbee, Jr, TW, Da Silva LB
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 13.03.2000
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:A laser self-focused channel formation into overdense plasmas was observed using a soft x-ray laser probe system with a grid image refractometry (GIR) technique. 1.053 m laser light with a 100 ps pulse duration was focused onto a preformed plasma at an intensity of 2x10(17) W/cm (2). Cross sections of the channel were obtained which show a 30 m diameter in overdense plasmas. The channel width in the overdense region was kept narrow as a result of self-focusing. Conically diverging density ridges were also observed along the channel, indicating a Mach cone created by a shock wave due to the supersonic propagation of the channel front.
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.2405