Enhanced inverse bremsstrahlung heating rates in a strong laser field

Test particle studies of electron scattering on ions, in an oscillatory electromagnetic field have shown that standard theoretical assumptions of small angle collisions and phase independent orbits are incorrect for electron trajectories with drift velocities smaller than quiver velocity amplitude. This leads to significant enhancement of the electron energy gain and the inverse bremsstrahlung heating rate in strong laser fields. Nonlinear processes such as Coulomb focusing and correlated collisions of electrons being brought back to the same ion by the oscillatory field are responsible for large angle, head-on scattering processes. The statistical importance of these trajectories has been examined for mono-energetic beam-like, Maxwellian and highly anisotropic electron distribution functions. A new scaling of the inverse bremsstrahlung heating rate with drift velocity and laser intensity is discussed.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure

Thomson scattering from high-temperature high-density plasmas revisited

The theory of Thomson scattering from high-temperature high-density plasmas is revisited from the view point of plasma fluctuation theory. Three subtle effects are addressed with a unified theory. The first is the correction of the first order of $v/c$, where $v$ is the particle velocity and $c$ is the light speed, the second is the plasma dielectric effect, and the third is the finite scattering volume effect. When the plasma density is high, the first effect is very significant in inferring plasma parameters from the scattering spectra off electron plasma waves. The second is also be notable but less significant. When the size of the scattering volume is much larger than the probe wavelength, the third is negligible.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusio

Quasimonoenergetic electron beams with relativistic energies and ultrashort duration from laser-solid interactions at 0.5 kHz

International audienceWe investigate the production of electron beams from the interaction of relativistically-intense laser pulses with a solid-density SiO2 target in a regime where the laser pulse energy is -mJ and the repetition rate -kHz. The electron beam spatial distribution and spectrum were investigated as a function of the plasma scale length, which was varied by deliberately introducing a moderate-intensity prepulse. At the optimum scale length of λ/2, the electrons are emitted in a collimated beam having a quasimonoenergetic distribution that peaked at -0.8MeV. A highly reproducible structure in the spatial distribution exhibits an evacuation of electrons along the laser specular direction and suggests that the electron beam duration is comparable to that of the laser pulse. Particle-in-cell simulations which are in good agreement with the experimental results offer insights on the acceleration mechanism by the laser field. © 2009 The American Physical Society

An unusual clinical presentation resembling superior vena cava syndrome post heart surgery

BACKGROUND: An unusual sequence of post operative events heralded by hemodynamic deterioration followed by dyspnea and rapidly progressive dilatation of superficial neck and facial veins, resembling a superior vena cava syndrome, two days post surgical resection of filamentous aortic valve masses, closure of a patent foramen ovale, and performance of a modified Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation in a patient that presented with transient neurologic findings is presented. CASE PRESENTATION: Although both clinical findings and hemodynamic derangements completely resolved following tricuspid valve repair aimed to correct the new onset severe tricuspid regurgitation noted post operatively; a clear mechanism was not readily obvious and diagnostic testing data somewhat conflictive. We present a careful retrospective examination of all clinical data and review possible clinical entities that could have been implicated in this particular case and recognize that transesophageal echocardiographic findings were most useful in identifying the best course of action. CONCLUSION: After reviewing all clinical data and despite the inconclusive nature of test results; the retrospective examination of transesophageal echocardiographic findings proved to be most useful in identifying the best course of action. We postulate that in our case, resolution of the suspected pulmonary embolism with anticoagulation and reestablishment of a normal right ventricular geometry with tricuspid valve repair worked in unison in restoring normal hemodynamics and resolving both dyspnea and venous dilatation

Thomson scattering from laser plasmas

Thomson scattering has recently been introduced as a fundamental diagnostic of plasma conditions and basic physical processes in dense, inertial confinement fusion plasmas. Experiments at the Nova laser facility [E. M. Campbell et al., Laser Part. Beams 9, 209 (1991)] have demonstrated accurate temporally and spatially resolved characterization of densities, electron temperatures, and average ionization levels by simultaneously observing Thomson scattered light from ion acoustic and electron plasma (Langmuir) fluctuations. In addition, observations of fast and slow ion acous- tic waves in two-ion species plasmas have also allowed an independent measurement of the ion temperature. These results have motivated the application of Thomson scattering in closed-geometry inertial confinement fusion hohlraums to benchmark integrated radiation-hydrodynamic modeling of fusion plasmas. For this purpose a high energy 4{omega} probe laser was implemented recently allowing ultraviolet Thomson scattering at various locations in high-density gas-filled hohlraum plasmas. In partic- ular, the observation of steep electron temperature gradients indicates that electron thermal transport is inhibited in these gas-filled hohlraums. Hydrodynamic calcula- tions which include an exact treatment of large-scale magnetic fields are in agreement with these findings. Moreover, the Thomson scattering data clearly indicate axial stagnation in these hohlraums by showing a fast rise of the ion temperature. Its timing is in good agreement with calculations indicating that the stagnating plasma will not deteriorate the implosion of the fusion capsules in ignition experiments