Diamond detectors for characterization of laser-generated plasma

Diamond monocrystalline detectors were used to characterize radiation and particle emission from laser-generated plasma obtained at Laboratori Nazionali del Sud (LNS) and Plasma Asterix Laser Systems (PALS) laboratories by using a high power pulsed laser intensity of 10(10) W/cm(2) and 10(16) W/cm(2), respectively. Al, Ta, Au and CF2 plasmas were obtained in different irradiation conditions. Diamond detectors permitted to measure UV, X-rays, electrons and ions. Time-of-flight technique was employed to separate in time the different contributions. Results indicate that this detector has some advantages with respect to the others, such as the high energy gap, the high energy resolution, the low background current and the possibility to detect simultaneously photons, electrons and ions

Preliminary results from recent experiments and future roadmap to shock ignition of fusion targets

Shock ignition (SI) is a new approach to Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) based on decoupling the compression and ignition phase. The last one relies on launching a strong shock through a high intensity laser spike (≤ 1016 W/cm2) at the end of compression. In this paper, first we described an experiment performed using the PALS iodine laser to study laser-target coupling and laser-plasma interaction in an intensity regime relevant for SI. A first beam with wavelength λ = 1.33 µm and low intensity was used to create an extended preformed plasma, and a second one with λ = 0.44 µm to create a strong shock. Several diagnostics characterized the preformed plasma and the interaction of the main pulse. Pressure up to 90 Mbar was inferred. In the last paper of the paper, we discuss the relevant steps, which can be followed in order to approach the demonstration of SI on laser facilities like LMJ