Optimization of plasma mirror reflectivity and optical quality using double laser pulses

We measure a record 96 ±2.5% specularly reflected energy fraction from an interaction with a plasma mirror (PM) surface preionized by a controlled prepulse and find that the optical quality is dependent on the inter pulse time delay. Simulations show that the main pulse reflected energy is a strong...

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Main Authors: G G Scott, V Bagnoud, C Brabetz, R J Clarke, J S Green, R I Heathcote, H W Powell, B Zielbauer, T D Arber, P McKenna, D Neely
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: IOP Publishing 2015-01-01
Series:New Journal of Physics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/17/3/033027
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author G G Scott
V Bagnoud
C Brabetz
R J Clarke
J S Green
R I Heathcote
H W Powell
B Zielbauer
T D Arber
P McKenna
D Neely
author_facet G G Scott
V Bagnoud
C Brabetz
R J Clarke
J S Green
R I Heathcote
H W Powell
B Zielbauer
T D Arber
P McKenna
D Neely
author_sort G G Scott
collection DOAJ
description We measure a record 96 ±2.5% specularly reflected energy fraction from an interaction with a plasma mirror (PM) surface preionized by a controlled prepulse and find that the optical quality is dependent on the inter pulse time delay. Simulations show that the main pulse reflected energy is a strong function of plasma density scale length, which increases with the time delay and reaches a peak reflectivity for a scale length of 0.3 μ m, which is achieved here for a pulse separation time of 3 ps. It is found that the incident laser quasi near field intensity distribution leads to nonuniformities in this plasma expansion and consequent critical surface position distribution. The PM optical quality is found to be governed by the resultant perturbations in the critical surface position, which become larger with inter pulse time delay.
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spelling doaj.art-8513f5b705244bf5bbd53058cc9265072023-08-08T14:19:38ZengIOP PublishingNew Journal of Physics1367-26302015-01-0117303302710.1088/1367-2630/17/3/033027Optimization of plasma mirror reflectivity and optical quality using double laser pulsesG G Scott0V Bagnoud1C Brabetz2R J Clarke3J S Green4R I Heathcote5H W Powell6B Zielbauer7T D Arber8P McKenna9D Neely10Central Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Didcot OX11 0QX, UK; Department of Physics SUPA, University of Strathclyde , Glasgow G4 0NG, UKPHELIX group, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH , D-64291 Darmstadt, GermanyPHELIX group, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH , D-64291 Darmstadt, GermanyCentral Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Didcot OX11 0QX, UKCentral Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Didcot OX11 0QX, UKCentral Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Didcot OX11 0QX, UKDepartment of Physics SUPA, University of Strathclyde , Glasgow G4 0NG, UKPHELIX group, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung GmbH , D-64291 Darmstadt, GermanyDepartment of Physics, University of Warwick , Coventry CV4 7AL, UKDepartment of Physics SUPA, University of Strathclyde , Glasgow G4 0NG, UKCentral Laser Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory , Didcot OX11 0QX, UK; Department of Physics SUPA, University of Strathclyde , Glasgow G4 0NG, UKWe measure a record 96 ±2.5% specularly reflected energy fraction from an interaction with a plasma mirror (PM) surface preionized by a controlled prepulse and find that the optical quality is dependent on the inter pulse time delay. Simulations show that the main pulse reflected energy is a strong function of plasma density scale length, which increases with the time delay and reaches a peak reflectivity for a scale length of 0.3 μ m, which is achieved here for a pulse separation time of 3 ps. It is found that the incident laser quasi near field intensity distribution leads to nonuniformities in this plasma expansion and consequent critical surface position distribution. The PM optical quality is found to be governed by the resultant perturbations in the critical surface position, which become larger with inter pulse time delay.https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/17/3/033027plasma mirrorplasma reflectivitydouble pulseplasma opticsoptical qualitylaser plasma interaction
spellingShingle G G Scott
V Bagnoud
C Brabetz
R J Clarke
J S Green
R I Heathcote
H W Powell
B Zielbauer
T D Arber
P McKenna
D Neely
Optimization of plasma mirror reflectivity and optical quality using double laser pulses
New Journal of Physics
plasma mirror
plasma reflectivity
double pulse
plasma optics
optical quality
laser plasma interaction
title Optimization of plasma mirror reflectivity and optical quality using double laser pulses
title_full Optimization of plasma mirror reflectivity and optical quality using double laser pulses
title_fullStr Optimization of plasma mirror reflectivity and optical quality using double laser pulses
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of plasma mirror reflectivity and optical quality using double laser pulses
title_short Optimization of plasma mirror reflectivity and optical quality using double laser pulses
title_sort optimization of plasma mirror reflectivity and optical quality using double laser pulses
topic plasma mirror
plasma reflectivity
double pulse
plasma optics
optical quality
laser plasma interaction
url https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/17/3/033027
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