Recent highlights of the PALS research program

The Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS) research program covers a broad spectrum of laser–plasma experiments in the range of power densities of 1014-5 × 1016W/cm2, aimed at development and applications of laser plasma-based ion and soft X-ray sources of plasma based ultra-bright XUV lasers in particular. In parallel to these two main lines of research, various principal tasks of laser plasma physics are being studied, such as generation and propagation of laser-induced shock waves, laser ablation, and crater creation processes or laser imprint treatment. Results selected of numerous experimental projects performed at PALS within the period 2002–2004 are surveyed in the paper, experiments with intense soft XUV laser beams being highlighted on the first place.

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An effect of the target position relative to the laser focus on X-ray emission from the laser plasma

Laser and Particle Beams ◽

10.1017/s0263034600004687 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 743-751 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

M. Chvojka ◽

B. Králiková ◽

E. Krouský ◽

L. Láska ◽

K. Maŝek ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Laser Plasma ◽

Laser System ◽

Broad Band ◽

Plasma Temperature ◽

Target Position ◽

Resonant Line ◽

X Ray ◽

Laser Focus ◽

Foil Target ◽

Band Spectra

The first harmonics beam generated by an iodine laser system was focused by an f/2 optics on an Al foil target. The X-ray output from the laser plasma both in the line and broad-band spectra was registered over an interval around the “ideal” focus. It was found that the maximum X-ray power is not obtained in the focus itself but for a somewhat larger focal spot outside the focus. To explain this phenomena, temperature and density measurements were in addition made. The plasma temperature evaluated from both the line (He-like Al XII resonant line and j, k, l satellites) and broad-band spectra (two foil method) was also measured and found to be largely constant in the vicinity of the focus. The line and broad-band temperatures differ, the broad-band temperature being about 25% higher. The electron density was equally determined using an intercombination line.

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Coded aperture x-ray imaging of high power laser-plasma interactions on the Vulcan Laser System

Radiation Detectors in Medicine, Industry, and National Security XIX ◽

10.1117/12.2319380 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Robert I. Heathcote ◽

Nicola Booth ◽

Robert J. Clarke ◽

Asha Anderson-Asubonteng ◽

Matthew P. Selwood ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Power ◽

Laser Plasma ◽

Laser System ◽

Coded Aperture ◽

High Power Laser ◽

Power Laser ◽

Plasma Interactions ◽

X Ray ◽

Laser Plasma Interactions ◽

X Ray Imaging

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Spectroscopy Methods and Applications of the Tor Vergata Laser-Plasma Facility Driven by GW-Level Laser System

International Journal of Spectroscopy ◽

10.1155/2011/792131 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

M. Francucci ◽

P. Gaudio ◽

S. Martellucci ◽

M. Richetta

Keyword(s):

Laser Plasma ◽

Laser System ◽

Line Emission ◽

Pulsed Laser ◽

Plasma Source ◽

Laser Source ◽

Solid Target ◽

Glass Laser ◽

X Ray ◽

Level Laser

A review focused on plasma induced on solid target by GW-level pulsed laser source is presented. A description of the Tor Vergata laser-plasma source (TVLPS), at the Tor Vergata University in Rome, is given. Such a facility uses a 1 GW, tabletop, multistage Nd:YAG/Glass laser system, delivering infrared (IR) pulses with nanosecond width and 1064 nm wavelength (TEM00 mode). Its applications are discussed providing: wide analysis of IR → soft X-ray conversion efficiency (1.3–1.55 keV); measures and modeling of line emission in soft X-ray spectra, such as those from zinc plasma near Ne-like Zn XXI and from barium plasma near Ni-like Ba XXIX. Particular attention is devoted to high-n dielectronic Rydberg satellites for finding a useful diagnostic tool for plasma conditions. Dependence of plasma spectra on laser parameters is shown. Finally, microradiography applications are presented for thin biological samples. Images permit to visualize specific structures and detect bioaccumulation sites due to contamination from pollutants.

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High-brightness laser plasma soft X-ray source using a double-stream gas puff target irradiated with the Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS)

Journal of Alloys and Compounds ◽

10.1016/s0925-8388(03)00564-4 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 362 (1-2) ◽

pp. 67-70 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

H Fiedorowicz

Keyword(s):

Laser Plasma ◽

Laser System ◽

High Brightness ◽

X Ray

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Experimental results for high intensity KrF laser/plasma interaction

Laser and Particle Beams ◽

10.1017/s0263034600002044 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 4 (3-4) ◽

pp. 329-348 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

A. A. Offenberger ◽

R. Fedosejevs ◽

P. D. Gupta ◽

R. Popil ◽

Y. Y. Tsui

Keyword(s):

Laser Plasma ◽

Brillouin Scattering ◽

Laser System ◽

Experimental Results ◽

Stimulated Scattering ◽

Plasma Interaction ◽

X Ray ◽

Laser Plasma Interaction ◽

Incident Laser Pulse ◽

Krf Laser

A high power KrF laser system employing beam multiplexing and stimulated Raman or Brillouin scattering to produce pulses as short as 1 ns and focused intensities on target of 1011 to 1014 W/cm2 has been developed for laser/plasma interaction research. A variety of investigations have been pursued on single and multilayer targets with variable atomic numbers. Absorption, transport, X-ray conversion, ion expansion characteristics, mass ablation and ablation pressure scaling, and stimulated scattering instabilities are among features that have been studied as a function of laser intensity. A wide variety of laser and target diagnostics are employed including focal plane imaging cameras for energy distribution and UV and soft X-ray streak cameras for temporally resolving the incident laser pulse and X-ray emission. Experimental results will be presented and our current understanding of the KrF laser/plasma interaction will be discussed.

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Ablation Process of Silica Glass Induced by Laser Plasma Soft X-ray Irradiation

IEEJ Transactions on Electronics Information and Systems ◽

10.1541/ieejeiss.129.595 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 129 (4) ◽

pp. 595-600

Author(s):

Tetsuya Makimura ◽

Takashige Fujimori ◽

Shuichi Torii ◽

Hiroyuki Niino ◽

Kouichi Murakami

Keyword(s):

Laser Plasma ◽

Silica Glass ◽

Ablation Process ◽

X Ray

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Study of multicharged heavy ion generation from CO2 laser-produced plasma

Laser and Particle Beams ◽

10.1017/s0263034600010089 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 347-368 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

V.Yu. Baranov ◽

K.N. Makarov ◽

V.C. Roerich ◽

Yu.A. Satov ◽

A.N. Starostin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hadron Collider ◽

Laser System ◽

Heavy Ion ◽

Ion Source ◽

Lead Ion ◽

Ion Generation ◽

Wavelength Radiation ◽

Laser Heated ◽

Work Done ◽

Power Densities

The results of lead ion generation with charge state from Pb10+ to Pb35+ from laser-heated plasma are presented. CO2 lasers producing 10.6-μm wavelength radiation at power densities in the range 4.1011-6.1014 W/cm2 in TBKI and CERN were used. Results of detailed numerical simulations presented in the paper are in good agreement with the experimental data. Work done in collaboration with CERN, ITEP, and TBKI was aimed at the specification of requirements for a laser system that will be able to drive an ion source for the hadron collider (LHC) at CERN.

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Thermal laser ablation with tunable lesion size reveals multiple origins of seizure-like convulsions in Caenorhabditis elegans

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84516-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Anthony D. Fouad ◽

Alice Liu ◽

Angelica Du ◽

Priya D. Bhirgoo ◽

Christopher Fang-Yen

Keyword(s):

Laser Ablation ◽

Ventral Nerve Cord ◽

High Spatial Resolution ◽

Laser System ◽

Laser Pulses ◽

Lesion Size ◽

Single Neurons ◽

C Elegans ◽

Multiple Origins ◽

Important Means

AbstractLaser microsurgery has long been an important means of assessing the functions of specific cells and tissues. Most laser ablation systems use short, highly focused laser pulses to create plasma-mediated lesions with dimensions on the order of the wavelength of light. While the small size of the lesion enables ablation with high spatial resolution, it also makes it difficult to ablate larger structures. We developed an infrared laser ablation system capable of thermally lesioning tissues with spot sizes tunable by the duration and amplitude of laser pulses. We used our laser system in the roundworm C. elegans to kill single neurons and to sever the dorsal and ventral nerve cords, structures that are difficult to lesion using a plasma-based ablation system. We used these ablations to investigate the source of convulsions in a gain-of-function mutant for the acetylcholine receptor ACR-2. Severing the ventral nerve cord caused convulsions to occur independently anterior and posterior to the lesion, suggesting that convulsions can arise independently from distinct subsets of the motor circuit.

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