0000000000003870
AUTHOR
Paul Neumayer
High-brilliance double-stage soft x-ray laser pumped by multiple pulses applied in grazing incidence
A new compact scheme for a double-stage seeded x-ray laser is demonstrated. This laser is offering greatly improved beam quality and brilliance making it a useful tool for applications.
Short-wavelength soft-x-ray laser pumped in double-pulse single-beam non-normal incidence
We demonstrated a $7.36$ nm Ni-like samarium soft-x-ray laser, pumped by $36$ J of a neodymium:glass chirped-pulse amplification laser. Double-pulse single-beam non-normal-incidence pumping was applied for efficient soft-x-ray laser generation. In this case, the applied technique included a single-optic focusing geometry for large beam diameters, a single-pass grating compressor, traveling-wave tuning capability, and an optimized high-energy laser double pulse. This scheme has the potential for even shorter-wavelength soft-x-ray laser pumping.
Towards high photon-number soft x-ray lasers
We present an experimental design to independently pump two soft X-ray laser media suitable for a seed-amplifier configuration. Both the seed and the amplifier target are operated in the TCE scheme utilizing the DGRIP technique with its intrinsic travelling wave excitation. Controlled injection of the seed X-ray laser into the amplifier medium is realized via a spherical XUV mirror. The experimental design is perfectly appropriate for benchmarking combined simulations of the ARWEN and DeepOne code. A first experiment at the PHELIX laser utilizing this scheme has been conducted, demonstrating signs of amplification and allowing for the direct measurement of the gain life time of a Ni-like si…
Strong-field physics using lasers and relativistic heavy ions at the high-energy storage ring hesr at fair
The HESR high-energy ion storage ring at FAIR will provide unprecedented possibilities for strong-field physics using novel laser sources on relativistic heavy ions. An overview on the planning will be given.
A beamline for x-ray laser spectroscopy at the experimental storage ring at GSI
By combining an x-ray laser (XRL) with a heavy-ion storage ring, precision laser spectroscopy of the fine-structure splitting in heavy Li-like ions will be possible. An initial study has been performed to determine the feasibility of a first experiment at the experimental storage ring at GSI in Darmstadt, which also has great potential for the experiments planned for FAIR. We plan to perform a unique, direct and precise measurement of a fine-structure transition in a heavy Li-like ion. Such a measurement will test state-of-the-art atomic structure calculations in strong fields. This endeavour will require that the existing infrastructure is complemented by a dedicated beamline for the XRL. …
Laser driven X-ray parametric amplification in neutral gases—a new brilliant light source in the XUV
Abstract In this paper we present the experimental setup and results showing a new type of strong-field parametric amplification of high-order harmonic radiation. With a simple semi-classical model, we can identify the most important experimental parameters, the spectral range and the small signal gain in gases. Using a single stage amplifier, a small signal gain of 8000 has been obtained in argon for the spectral range of 40–50 eV, using 350 fs, 7 mJ pulses at 1.05 μm. An outlook for an experiment employing a double stage gas system will be given.
Demonstration of an efficient pumping scheme for a 7.36-nm Ni-like samarium soft x-ray laser
The demonstration of a 7.36 nm Ni-like Sm soft x-ray laser pumped by 36 J of a Nd:glass chirped pulse amplification laser is presented. Double-pulse single-beam non-normal incidence pumping was applied for the efficient soft x-ray laser generation. Here the applied technique included a new single optic focusing geometry for large beam diameters, a single-pass grating compressor traveling-wave tuning capability and an optimized high energy laser double-pulse. This scheme has the potential for even shorter wavelength soft x-ray laser pumping.
Gain lifetime measurement of a Ni-like Ag soft X-ray laser
International audience; Experimental results of a two-stage Ni-like Ag soft X-ray laser operated in a seed-amplifier configuration are presented. Both targets were pumped applying the double-pulse grazing incidence technique with intrinsic travelling wave excitation. The injection of the seed X-ray laser into the amplifier target was realized by a spherical mirror. The results show amplification of the seed X-ray laser and allow for a direct measurement of the gain lifetime. The experimental configuration is suitable for providing valuable input for computational simulations. (C) 2012 Optical Society of America
Diagnostics for studies of novel laser ion acceleration mechanisms.
Diagnostic for investigating and distinguishing different laser ion acceleration mechanisms has been developed and successfully tested. An ion separation wide angle spectrometer can simultaneously investigate three important aspects of the laser plasma interaction: (1) acquire angularly resolved energy spectra for two ion species, (2) obtain ion energy spectra for multiple species, separated according to their charge to mass ratio, along selected axes, and (3) collect laser radiation reflected from and transmitted through the target and propagating in the same direction as the ion beam. Thus, the presented diagnostic constitutes a highly adaptable tool for accurately studying novel accelera…
<title>New PW stretcher-compressor design for PHELIX laser</title>
With PHELIX (Petawatt High Energy Laser for heavy Ion EXperiments) a high energy/ultra-high intensity laser system is currently under construction at the GSI (Gesellschaft fur SchwerIonenforschung, Germany). In combination with the high current high energy ion accelerator facility this will provide worldwide unique experimental opportunities in the field of dense plasma physics and inertial fusion research. In the long pulse mode the laser system will provide laser pulses of up to 5 kJ in 1-10 ns pulses. In the high intensity mode pulse powers in excess of 1 PW will be achieved. For this the well known technique of chirped pulse amplification (CPA) will be implemented. A new CPA stretcher-c…