Terawatt Pulsed THz Sources from Picosecond Laser-Solid Interactions

ORAL · Invited

Abstract

Terawatt scale THz opens new avenues for study into extreme light-matter interactions at the low end of the frequency spectrum and with effectively single-cycle pulses[1]. There has been steady progress for many years on increasing THz pulse power and energy via solid, liquid and gaseous targets, with an eventual goal of >1 TW peak powers. This talk presents the result of years of study into foil, wire, and microchannel targets irradiated with the joule-class Multi-Terawatt laser and kilojoule-class OMEGA EP laser. The experiments were observed to generate THz sources in the range of 10’s of millijoules to greater than 1 joule of pulse energy[2], which correspond to a terawatts in peak power. The physics of THz generation from each target type is examined analytically and compared to the experimental results. Future uses of these powerful THz sources are discussed, with an emphasis on extreme light–matter interactions using powerful THz sources to drive matter into new states as well as a probe fusion relevant plasmas.

1) Guoqian Liao, Yutong Li; Perspectives on ultraintense laser-driven terahertz radiation from plasmas. Phys. Plasmas 1 September 2023; 30 (9): 090602.

2) G. Bruhaug, H. G. Rinderknecht, K. Weichman, M. VanDusen-Gross, J. P. Palastro, M. S. Wei, S. P. Regan, Y. E, K. Garriga, X.-C. Zhang, G. W. Collins, and J. R. Rygg, "Joule-class THz pulses from microchannel targets," Opt. Lett. 49, 1737-1740 (2024)

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Publication: G. Bruhaug, H. G. Rinderknecht, K. Weichman, M. VanDusen-Gross, J. P. Palastro, M. S. Wei, S. P. Regan, Y. E, K. Garriga, X.-C. Zhang, G. W. Collins, and J. R. Rygg, "Joule-class THz pulses from microchannel targets," Opt. Lett. 49, 1737-1740 (2024)

Presenters

  • Gerrit Bruhaug

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

Authors

  • Gerrit Bruhaug

    Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Hans G Rinderknecht

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics - Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE)

  • Jiacheng Zhao

    Institute of Optics, University of Rochester

  • Ethan A Smith

    University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

  • Yiwen E

    Institute of Optics, University of Rochester

  • Matthew Edward Signor

    University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

  • Robert Nowak

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

  • Kale Weichman

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

  • John P Palastro

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE)

  • Matthew Albert VanDusen-Gross

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

  • Mingsheng Wei

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, University of Rochester

  • Sean P Regan

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

  • Gilbert W Collins

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester

  • James R Rygg

    Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, University of Rochester

  • Kareem Garriga

    Institute of Optics, University of Rochester

  • Xi-Cheng Zhang

    Institute of Optics, University of Rochester

  • R. James Smith

    TAE Technologies, Inc, TAE Technologies

  • Ales Necas

    TAE Technologies, Inc

  • Kan Zhai

    TAE Technologies, Inc.