Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Third harmonic order imaging as a focal spot diagnostic for high intensity laser-solid interactions
AU - Dromey, B.
AU - Bellei, C.
AU - Carroll, D. C.
AU - Clarke, R. J.
AU - Green, J. S.
AU - Kar, S.
AU - Kneip, S.
AU - Markey, K.
AU - Nagel, S. R.
AU - Willingale, L.
AU - McKenna, P.
AU - Neely, D.
AU - Najmudin, Z.
AU - Krushelnick, K.
AU - Norreys, P. A.
AU - Zepf, M.
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - As the state of the art for high power laser systems increases from terawatt to petawatt level and beyond, a crucial parameter for routinely monitoring high intensity performance is laser spot size on a solid target during an intense interaction in the tight focus regime (<10 mu m). Here we present a novel, simple technique for characterizing the spatial profile of such a laser focal spot by imaging the interaction region in third harmonic order (3 omega(laser)). Nearly linear intensity dependence of 3 omega(laser) generation for interactions > 10(19) Wcm(-2) is demonstrated experimentally and shown to provide the basis for an effective focus diagnostic. Importantly, this technique is also shown to allow in-situ diagnosis of focal spot quality achieved after reflection from a double plasma mirror setup for very intense high contrast interactions (> 10(20) Wcm(-2)) an important application for the field of high laser contrast interaction science.
AB - As the state of the art for high power laser systems increases from terawatt to petawatt level and beyond, a crucial parameter for routinely monitoring high intensity performance is laser spot size on a solid target during an intense interaction in the tight focus regime (<10 mu m). Here we present a novel, simple technique for characterizing the spatial profile of such a laser focal spot by imaging the interaction region in third harmonic order (3 omega(laser)). Nearly linear intensity dependence of 3 omega(laser) generation for interactions > 10(19) Wcm(-2) is demonstrated experimentally and shown to provide the basis for an effective focus diagnostic. Importantly, this technique is also shown to allow in-situ diagnosis of focal spot quality achieved after reflection from a double plasma mirror setup for very intense high contrast interactions (> 10(20) Wcm(-2)) an important application for the field of high laser contrast interaction science.
KW - Harmonic generation
KW - Intense laser interaction
KW - VULCAN PETAWATT
KW - PLASMA MIRROR
KW - PULSES
KW - GENERATION
KW - DEPENDENCE
KW - ABSORPTION
KW - POWER
U2 - 10.1017/S0263034609000329
DO - 10.1017/S0263034609000329
M3 - Journal article
VL - 27
SP - 243
EP - 248
JO - Laser and Particle Beams
JF - Laser and Particle Beams
SN - 0263-0346
IS - 2
ER -