The 6th International Conference on Matter and Radiation at Extremes (ICMRE2023)

223 / 2023-04-16 02:38:23

High energy particles and photons in relativistic laser-matter interaction

photons and particles in the MeV energy range

Inertial Confinement Fusion Physics > Drivers, targets and diagnostics-II

Intense beams of photons and particles in the MeV energy range are effective tools in many areas of research, such as the creation and diagnostics of matter in extreme states in experiments on CTS, nuclear physics and materials science, as well as in other applications. Various processes of laser-plasma acceleration of electrons are considered, starting with the mechanism of wakefield acceleration in the regime of self-modulation of a laser pulse [1]. This mode of generation of ultrarelativistic electrons underlies the creation of a platform for diagnosing compressed target matter in a number of large laboratories conducting research in the field of thermonuclear fusion with inertial confinement [2].

A more efficient concept for creating sources of γ-radiation and neutrons based on the generation of relativistic electrons in the regime of direct laser acceleration is currently being discussed. PW-class laser systems capable of generating subpicosecond and femtosecond pulses focused to ultrarelativistic intensity, are good candidates for creating high-current beams of ultrarelativistic electrons in an extended plasma with a density close to critical [3, 4], which was confirmed in experiments [5].

The dependences of the parameters of laser-generated electron bunches and hard radiation on the laser radiation intensity and plasma density for subpicosecond and femtosecond laser pulses are obtained and analyzed taking into account current and future experiments [5, 6]. The developed approach indicates the possibility of a significant increase in the efficiency of existing kJ PW class laser systems used for research in the field of thermonuclear fusion with inertial confinement, and can be applied to improve the efficiency of a wide class of secondary laser sources, such as sources of electrons, positrons, betatron and bremsstrahlung radiation, protons and neutrons sources for various purposes.

  

[1] Andreev N.E., Gorbunov L.M. Physics–Uspekhi. 1999. 42 (1). 49–77.

[2] Joshi C. https://www.orau.gov/stri/ssap2021/HEDP_Feb17/HEDP_Feb17_3.00pm_Joshi.pdf

[3] Pugachev L.P., Andreev N.E., Levashov P.R., Rosmej O.N. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research A. 2016. V. 829. P. 88–93.

[4] Andreev N.E., Popov V.S., Rosmej O.N., et al. Quantum Electronics. 2021. 51. 1019–1025.

[5] Rosmej O.N., Andreev N.E., Zaehter S., et al., New J. Phys. 2019. V. 21. P. 043044.

[6] Andreev N.E., Umarov I.R., Popov V S. Quantum Electronics. 2023. in press.