LPI Experiments with Long Scale-length Plasmas at the Nike Laser*

POSTER

Abstract

Experiments at the Nike laser are exploring low density (5-25 mg/cm3) CH foam targets for studies of laser plasma instabilities (LPI). This ongoing effort has produced larger volume plasmas with estimated 5-10x longer density and velocity scale-lengths versus solid targets. The platform is being used to examine the effects of wavelength shifting and bandwidth changes on cross beam energy transport (CBET). A first round of experiments has utilized a backlighter beam as a low intensity probe interacting with the tightly focused main beams that create a high intensity pump (~1-2x1015 W/cm2). Nike’s focal zooming of the main beams was exploited to heat a large target volume (~1 mm) at lower intensity (1012-1013 W/cm2) prior to the pump-probe interactions. The new configuration of target diagnostics is presented with example data from the current shot campaign. This poster also discusses LPSE simulations performed for the CBET studies and plans for SRS and TPD studies in these foam targets with the associated laser configurations.

Presenters

  • James L Weaver

    Naval Research Lab, Naval Research Laboratory, Plasma Physics Division, NRL

Authors

  • James L Weaver

    Naval Research Lab, Naval Research Laboratory, Plasma Physics Division, NRL

  • Jaechul Oh

    Naval Research Laboratory, Plasma Physics Division, NRL, Plasma Physics Division, US Naval Research Lab, Plasma Physics Division, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC

  • David M Kehne

    Naval Research Laboratory

  • Robert Lehmberg

    Naval Research Laboratory, Naval Research Lab

  • Andrew J Schmitt

    Naval Research Lab, Naval Research Laboratory, Plasma Physics Division, NRL, Plasma Physics Division, US Naval Research Lab, U.S. Naval Research Lab

  • Jason Wilson Bates

    Naval Research Laboratory, Naval Research Lab, U.S. Naval Research Lab

  • Russel Follett

    University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics

  • J. G. G. Shaw

    LLE/University of Rochester, University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Univ of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester

  • Jason F Myatt

    University of Alberta, Univ of Alberta

  • Mingsheng S Wei

    General Atomics - San Diego, General Atomics, GA, San Diego

  • Jarrod Williams

    General Atomics

  • Patrick W McKenty

    University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Univ of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics U. of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, U. of Rochester

  • Frank Shih-Yu Tsung

    University of California, Los Angeles, Univ of California - Los Angeles

  • Stephen P. Obenschain

    Naval Research Laboratory, Plasma Physics Division, NRL, Naval Research Lab, Plasma Physics Division, US Naval Research Lab, Plasma Physics Division, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC

  • Victor Serlin

    Naval Research Laboratory, Plasma Physics Division, NRL, Plasma Physics Division, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC