Experimental study of picosecond laser plasma formation in thin foils

Year: 2000

Authors: Galimberti M., Gizzi LA., Barbini A., Chessa P., Giulietti A., Giulietti D., Rossi A.

Autors Affiliation: Ist. di Fisica Atomica e Molecolare, Area della Ricerca del CNR, Via Alfieri, 1, 56010 Ghezzano, Pisa, Italy; LOA-ENSTA, Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex, France; Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Pisa, INFM, via Buonarroti, 2, 56100 Pisa, Italy

Abstract: A high performance, fully controlled picosecond laser system has been designed and built with the aid of a numerical code capable of simulating the temporal behavior of the laser system, including each active and passive component. The laser performance was characterized with an optical streak camera, equivalent plane monitor, and calorimeter measurements. The laser pulse was focused on 150-nm thick foils to investigate plasma formation and the related transmittivity of the laser light. The experimental data are in very good agreement with the predictions of a simple, 2D analytical model that takes into account the actual shot-to-shot features of the laser pulse. The temporal profile of the pulse and the intensity distribution in the focal spot were found to play a key role in determining the transmission properties of the laser-irradiated foil. This work may be relevant to a wide class of laser exploded foil plasma experiments.

Journal/Review: LASER AND PARTICLE BEAMS

Volume: 18 (1)      Pages from: 145  to: 150

KeyWords: laser plasma
DOI: 10.1017/S0263034600181170

Citations: 1
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