Transverse Dynamics and Energy Tuning of Fast Electrons Generated in Sub-Relativistic Intensity Laser Pulse Interaction with Plasmas

The regimes of quasi-mono-energetic electron beam generation were experimentally studied in the sub-relativistic intensity laser plasma interaction. The observed electron acceleration regime is unfolded with two-dimensional-particle-in-cell simulations of laser-wakefield generation in the self-modulation regime.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Soft X-ray harmonic comb from relativistic electron spikes

We demonstrate a new high-order harmonic generation mechanism reaching the `water window' spectral region in experiments with multi-terawatt femtosecond lasers irradiating gas jets. A few hundred harmonic orders are resolved, giving uJ/sr pulses. Harmonics are collectively emitted by an oscillating electron spike formed at the joint of the boundaries of a cavity and bow wave created by a relativistically self-focusing laser in underdense plasma. The spike sharpness and stability are explained by catastrophe theory. The mechanism is corroborated by particle-in-cell simulations

Space- and time-resolved observation of extreme laser frequency upshifting during ultrafast-ionization

A 65-fs, 800-nm, 2-TW laser pulse propagating through a nitrogen gas jet has been experimentally studied by 90 Thomson scattering. Time-integrated spectra of scattered light show unprecedented broadening towards the blue which exceeds 300 nm. Images of the scattering region provide for the first time a space- and time-resolved description of the process leading quite regularly to such a large upshift. The mean shifting rate was as high as dk/dt3A ̊/fs, never observed before. Interferometry shows that it occurs after partial laser defocusing. Numerical simulations prove that such an upshift is consistent with a laser-gas late interaction, when laser intensity has decreased well below relativistic values (a0 1) and ionization process involves most of the laser pulse. This kind of interaction makes spectral tuning of ultrashort intense laser pulses possible in a large spectral range. VC 2013 AIP Publishing LLC. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4818602

Stability improvement of a laser-accelerated electron beam and the pulse width measurement of the electron beam

Laser wakefield acceleration has the possibility to generate an ultrashort electron beam of the order of femtoseconds or less. In applications of these laser accelerated electron beams, stable and controllable electron beams are necessary. A high stability electron bunch is generated by laser wakefield acceleration with the help of a colliding laser pulse (optical injection). Stable and monoenergetic electron beams have been generated in the self-injection scheme of laser acceleration by using a Nitrogen gas jet target. The electron interaction with the laser field results in transverse oscillations of the electron beam. From the electron oscillation period dependence on the electron energy we find that the electron beam width is equal to 1.7 fs (rms).В процессе ускорения кильватерными волнами возможна генерация сверхкоротких электронных пучков фемтосекундной длительностью. Для приложений требуются электронные пучки с воспроизводимыми и котролируемыми параметрами. Оптическая инжекция, использующая сталкивающиеся лазерные импульсы, обеспечивает высокую воспроизводимость параметров пучков ускоренных электронов. Моноэнергетические пучки электронов с воспроизводимыми параметрами были получены при «самоинжекции» в кильватерную волну в экспериментах, использующих в качестве мишени струю азота. Взаимодействие электронов с излучением лазерного импульса приводит к поперечным осцилляциям электронного пучка. Анализ наблюдаемой в эксперименте зависимости периода осцилляций от энергии электронов позволяет найти длительность электронного пучка, равную 1.7 фс.В процесі прискорення кільватерними хвилями можлива генерація надкоротких електронних пучків фемтосекундної тривалості. Для додатків потрібні електронні пучки з відтворюючими і котролюючими параметрами. Оптична інжекція, що використовує зіштовхуючі лазерні імпульси, забезпечує високу відтворюваність параметрів пучків прискорених електронів. Моноенергетичні пучки електронів з відтворюваними параметрами були отримані при «самоінжекції» в кільватерну хвилю в експериментах, в яких в якості мішені використовувалася струмінь азоту. Взаємодія електронів з випромінюванням лазерного імпульсу призводить до поперечних осциляцій електронного пучка. Аналіз спостерігаючої в експерименті залежності періоду осциляцій від енергії електронів дозволяє знайти тривалість електронного пучка, яка дорівнює 1.7 фс

High-order alloharmonics produced by nonperiodic drivers

High-order harmonics are ubiquitous in nature and present in electromagnetic, acoustic, and gravitational waves. They are generated by periodic nonlinear processes or periodic high-frequency pulses. However, this periodicity is often inexact, such as that in chirped (frequency-swept) optical waveforms or interactions with nonstationary matter -- for instance, reflection from accelerating mirrors. Spectra observed in such cases contain complicated sets of harmonic-like fringes. We encountered such fringes in our experiment on coherent extreme ultraviolet generation via BISER, and could not interpret them using currently available knowledge. Here, we present a comprehensive theory based on interference of harmonics with different orders fully explaining the formation of these fringes, which we call alloharmonics. Like atomic spectra, the complex alloharmonic spectra depend on several integer numbers and bear a unique imprint of the emission process, which the theory can decipher, avoiding confusion or misinterpretation. We also demonstrate the alloharmonics in simulations of gravitational waves emitted by binary black hole mergers. Further, we predict the presence of alloharmonics in the radio spectra of pulsars and in optical frequency combs, and propose their use for measurement of extremely small accelerations necessary for testing gravity theories. The alloharmonics phenomenon generalizes classical harmonics and is critical in research fields such as laser mode locking, frequency comb generation, attosecond pulse generation, pulsar studies, and future gravitational wave spectroscopy.Comment: 29 pages, 9 figures, 3 table

High order harmonics from relativistic electron spikes

A new regime of relativistic high-order harmonic generation is discovered [Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 135004 (2012)]. Multi-terawatt relativistic-irradiance (>1018 W/cm2) femtosecond (~30-50 fs) lasers focused to underdense (few×1019 cm-3) plasma formed in gas jet targets produce comb-like spectra with hundreds of even and odd harmonic orders reaching the photon energy of 360 eV, including the 'water window' spectral range. Harmonics are generated by either linearly or circularly polarized pulses from the J-KAREN (KPSI, JAEA) and Astra Gemini (CLF, RAL, UK) lasers. The photon number scalability has been demonstrated with a 120 TW laser producing 40 μJ/sr per harmonic at 120 eV. The experimental results are explained using particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations and catastrophe theory. A new mechanism of harmonic generation by sharp, structurally stable, oscillating electron spikes at the joint of boundaries of wake and bow waves excited by a laser pulse is introduced. In this paper detailed descriptions of the experiments, simulations and model are provided and new features are shown, including data obtained with a two-channel spectrograph, harmonic generation by circularly polarized laser pulses and angular distribution

X-ray spectroscopy of super-intense laser-produced plasmas for the study of nonlinear processes. Comparison with PIC simulations

We present X-ray spectroscopic diagnostics in femto-second laser-driven experiments revealing nonlinear phenomena caused by the strong coupling of the laser radiation with the created plasma. Among those nonlinear phenomena, we found the signatures of the Two Plasmon Decay (TPD) instability in a laser-driven CO2 cluster-based plasma by analyzing the Langmuir dips in the profile of the O VIII Lyϵ line, caused by the Langmuir waves created at the high laser intensity 3 1018Wcm-2. With similar laser intensities, we reveal also the nonlinear phenomenon of the Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) of the laser frequency by analyzing the nonlinear phenomenon of satellites of Lyman δ and ϵ lines of Ar XVII. In the case of relativistic laser-plasma interaction we discovered the Parametric Decay Instability (PDI)-induced ion acoustic turbulence produced simultaneously with Langmuir waves via irradiation of thin Si foils by laser intensities of 1021Wcm-2

Effects of anti-malarial drugs on the electrocardiographic QT interval modelled in the isolated perfused guinea pig heart system

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Concern over the potential cardiotoxicity of anti-malarial drugs inducing a prolonged electrocardiographic QT interval has resulted in the almost complete withdrawal from the market of one anti-malarial drug - halofantrine. The effects on the QT interval of four anti-malarial drugs were examined, using the guinea pig heart.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The guinea pig heart was isolated, mounted on a Langendorff apparatus, and was then perfused with pyruvate-added Klebs-Henseleit solutions containing graded concentrations of the four agents such as quinidine (0.15 - 1.2 μM), quinine (0.3 - 2.4 μM), halofantrine (0.1 - 2.0 μM) and mefloquine (0.1 - 2.0 μM). The heart rate-corrected QaTc intervals were measured to evaluate drug-induced QT prolongation effects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Quinidine, quinine, and halofantrine prolonged the QaTc interval in a dose-dependent manner, whereas no such effect was found with mefloquine. The EC₅₀values for the QaTc prolongation effects, the concentration that gives a half-maximum effect, were quinidine < quinine ≈ halofantrine.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this study, an isolated, perfused guinea pig heart system was constructed to assess the cardiotoxic potential of anti-malarial drugs. This isolated perfused guinea pig heart system could be used to test newly developed anti-malarial drugs for their inherent QT lengthening potential. More information is required on the potential variation in unbound drug concentrations in humans, and their role in cardiotoxicity.</p