We develop a systematic comparison of thermodynamical and atomic properties computed within the three (TF, TFD, and TFDW) Thomas-Fermi modellings with results obtained from the average atom model. A special emphasis is placed on using the same analytic approximations for exchange, correlation, and gradient corrections. Analogies and discrepancies with respect to temperature behaviour are also stressed.

Electron dynamics in an axially localized large amplitude electron Bernstein mode in a magnetic mirror is studied. The mode is localized due to plasma density and magnetic field profiles and could be driven by an electron cyclotron wave, launched from outside, via linear mode conversion. Energetic electrons of finite gyro-radius resonantly interact with the mode and gain primarily transverse energy favoring stronger mirror confinement. At Bernstein wave normalized amplitude of A00 = 0.01 and for other normalized parameters Zn0 = 40, k⊥c/ω = 10, ${L}^{\prime}_m = 215$, ωc0/ω = 0.9, ψn0 = 3π/2, the electrons can gain energy in the hundreds of keV range.

A simple model in two dimensions is developed and solved analytically taking into account the electric and magnetic fields in laser produced plasmas. The electric potential in this model is described by the non-linear differential equation

ψ = eφ/T, where eφ is the electric potential energy and T is the temperature in energy units. The physical branch ψ < 1, defined by the electron density n = no exp ψ, boundary conditions n (x = 0) = const and n (x = +∞) = 0, introduces a typical electrostatic double layer. The stationary solution of this model is consistent for − 3 ≲ ψ < 1, with electron temperatures in the KeV region and a ratio of the electric (E) to magnetic (B) fields of [E/106 v/cm]/[B/MGauss] ∼ 1.

We present some experimental results which demonstrate the presence of electric inhibition in the propagation of relativistic electrons generated by intense laser pulses, depending on target conductivity. The use of transparent targets and shadowgraphic techniques has made it possible to evidence electron jets moving at the speed of light, an indication of the presence of self-generated strong magnetic fields.

The phase diagram of high density (1023 ˜ 1027/cm3) deuterium is obtained by calculation. The values of specific heat, electrical resistivity and thermal conductivity in the metallic state are estimated over a wide range of temperature (10−2 ˜ 104 eV). The temperature dependences of these properties are shown in figures with the density. When T ≤ Tf (Tf: the Fermi temperature of electrons), the behavior is very similar to those of normal metals. At high temperatures where T ≥ Tf, the behavior is similar to that of completely ionized classical plasma.

This fundamental data for deuterium will help us understand the properties of fuel in inertial-confinement fusion and to solve the fluid equations for efficient compression of fuel pellets.

The achievement of ignition from an Inertial Confinement Fusion capsule will require a detailed understanding of a wide range of high energy density phenomena. This paper presents some recent work aimed at improving our knowledge of the strength and equation of state characteristics of low-Z materials, and outlines data which will provide quantitative benchmarks against which our predictive radiation hydrodynamics capabilities can be tested. Improvements to our understanding in these areas are required if reproducible and predictable fusion energy production is to be achieved on the next generation of laser facilities.

In particular, the HELEN laser at AWE has been used to create a thermal X-ray source with 140 eV peak radiation temperature and 3% instantaneous flux uniformity to allow measurements of the Equation of State of materials at pressures up to 20 Mbar to an accuracy of <±2% in shock velocity. The same laser has been used to investigate the onset of spallation upon the release of a strong shock at a metal-vacuum boundary, with dynamic radiography used to image the spalled material in flight for the first time. Finally, a range of experiments have been performed to generate quantitative radiation hydrodynamics data on the evolution of gross target defects, driven in both planar and imploding geometry. X-ray radiography was used to record the evolving target deformation in a system where the X-ray drive and unperturbed target response were sufficiently characterized to permit meaningful analysis. The results have been compared to preshot predictions made using a wide variety of fluid codes, highlighting substantial differences between the various approaches, and indicating significant discrepancies with the experimental reality. The techniques developed to allow quantitative comparisons are allowing the causes of the discrepancies to be identified, and are guiding the development of new simulation techniques.

The possibility of enhancement of molecular formation by strong electromagnetic fields is discussed. The electron screening of the laser is considered. Rate production of ddμ and dtμ molecules in the presence of a laser field is estimated as a function of the resonance detuning.

The possibility of compressing the cryogenic hollow pellet of inertial confinement nuclear fusion with multiple adiabatic shock waves is discussed, on the basis of the estimation of the properties of a high-density deuterium plasma (1024−1027 cm−3, 10−1−104 eV), such as the velocity and the attenuation constant of the adiabatic sound wave, the width of the shock wave, and the surface tension.

It is found that in the course of compression the wavelength of the adiabatic sound wave and the width of the weak shock wave sometimes become comparable to or exceed the fuel shell width of the pellet, and that the surface tension is negative. These results show that it is rather difficult to compress stably the hollow pellet with successive weak shock waves.

We theoretically and experimentally investigate the conditions of obtaining a narrowband flat-top Brillouin gain spectrum (BGS) based on single-frequency and multi-frequency phase modulations. Using the unequal-amplitude spectral lines, the flat-top BGS can be realized by controlling the intensity ratio and the frequency separation between them. In experiment, we obtain the flat-top gain spectra with the bandwidths of 40 MHz and 125 MHz, and with the top fluctuation of less than 0.21 dB. Based on this, we also achieve low distortion Brillouin amplification of a probe signal pulse and spectrum.

Time and space-resolved emission spectroscopy measurements were performed to investigate plasma dynamics during laser evaporation of a graphite target in an ambient inert atmosphere. Intense molecular emission is found to occur behind a front separating the plasma from the foreign gas. Two stages of expansion are found and are well described, using a viscous drag force model for the first one and a delayed ideal blast wave model for the second. The vibrational temperature estimated using the Swan band in helium at different pressures is presented.

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) has made great progress. In fact several significant scientific firsts have been achieved in the last year. These developments have presented the ICF community with an opportunity to embark on a new phase in ICF research. The key issues of laser fusion are to attain a high absorption of laser light in a plasma, to prevent preheating of fuel during the compression, and to achieve highly efficient implosion by uniform compression of fuel due to the homogeneous deposition of laser energy on the pellet surface. Direct drive and indirect drive have been investigated. The progress in both schemes is remarkable. The neutron yield by the stagnation free compression of the LHART target has attained 1013 which corresponds to a pellet gain of 1/500. The plastic shell target has reached a fuel density as large as 600 times the liquid density which is measured by the Si activation method as well as the D knockon method. A cryogenic foam target is now under investigation.

An injection-locking excimer laser beam with a pulse duration of 25 ns is focused on the surface of a polymide film. The laser beam that passes through the etching film is shorter than the original one. By optimizing the thickness of the film and the beam powerdensity, a pulse with a 3-ns pulse duration can be obtained using this switch technology.

The goal of the experiments on “Module A-5” and S-300 machines for some 15 years was to study the “liner-converter” inertial confinement fusion (ICF) scheme. A new class of fast instabilities of z pinches was studied both in experiments and in analytical theory. Stabilization of the light liner has been achieved by means of an extrinsic magnetic field. Formation of thin overheated current-carrying shells has been predicted analytically and seems to be really observed. Both theory and simulations predict growing Te and heat flux onto the converter by using heterogeneous z pinches with spatially separated regions of efficient energy exchange and of efficient heat conductivity. In our first experiments of this kind, impurities were inserted by means of placing thin glass fibers into a He jet. Growing intensity of the spectral lines of He-like chlorine from the cathode surface confirms the growth of heat flux. Theoretical investigations and 2.5-D simulations were devoted to some basic points of this program.

We generate self-phase-stabilized pulses by difference-frequency generation of a hollow-fibre broadened supercontinuum followed by two-stage optical parametric amplification. This system allows the production of broadband pulses widely tuneable in the near-IR wavelength region. Energies up to 0.2 mJ with 15 fs pulse width are demonstrated. These characteristics make this source suitable as a driver for attosecond pulse generation.

With the development of high-power microwave technology, the output power of the pulse generator is required more and more higher. In this paper, it is realized by increasing the output power of the module while the output impedance of the module changes little. The module of the generator is based on pulse forming network (PFN) and linear transformer (LT). Four Blumlein PFNs with arc-type configuration and 24 Ω characteristic impedance were connected symmetrically to the primary coil of the LTD and driven by two identical laser triggered spark switches to ensure four Blumlein PFNs synchronizing operation. On this basis, a two-stage high-power pulse generator based on PFN-LT is developed. The following technical parameters of the generator were achieved on a 12 Ω high-power solid resistor: output voltage amplitude of ∼250 kV and output power of ∼5.2 GW at a repetition rate of 5 Hz.

We examine the electron acceleration induced by an ultra-relativistic intensity laser–plasma interaction in a two-dimensional plasma channel in the presence of a self-generated transverse magnetic field. We find that the electron dynamics is strongly affected by the laser pulse polarization angle, plasma density, and magnetic field strength. We investigate in detail, the dependencies of the electron acceleration in terms of different parameters and find excellent agreement with non-magnetized plasma in the absence of the magnetic field. The numerical results show that the self-generated magnetic field plays a constructive role in the electron acceleration process. It is shown that electron acceleration is more affected by self-generated magnetic field for the laser radiations with large polarization angles. The numerical results show the maximum enhancement for electron acceleration for a laser radiation with polarization angle θ = π/2.

In this paper, the opacity of plasma in local thermodynamic equilibrium condition was investigated numerically. The plasma was assumed to be produced by interaction of high power pulse laser with carbon and aluminum. Spectrally resolved opacities under different plasma temperature and density conditions were calculated and radiative absorption due to three absorption mechanisms; inverse bremsstrahlung, photo-ionization, and line absorption in plasmas was studied numerically. The purpose of this study is to calculate the values of absorption for inverse bremsstrahlung and photo-ionization processes for aluminum and carbon plasmas and to compare them for those of cold matter. In this investigation, the influences of density and temperature on plasma absorption were evaluated. The calculation results show that the opacity strength strongly depends on the plasma temperature and density.

We have analyzed the effects of the wiggler error due to the electron beam's emittance, energy spreads, and higher-order modes in a free-electron laser (FEL) oscillator by using two electron beams of different energies based on the proposed FEL facility which is operated at a far-infrared and infrared regions. The three-dimensional (3D) effects in a FEL oscillator due to the wiggler error were calculated and an evaluation of the effect of the beam's emittance and energy spread was performed for the case of the coupled two-beam oscillator for phase shift errors and wiggler errors. The mode construction was studied on the higher-order modes of the wiggler for the various wiggler error parameters for FEL performance which is required for the high-quality electron beam. The radiation intensity at the fundamental mode was calculated for the rms phase shake in wiggler errors with sinus type, constant type, and parabolic type in the two-beam oscillator system using the 3D calculations. The results are compared with those of the fundamental modes without wiggler errors.

Atomic processes in X-ray laser interaction plasmas are investigated by using a collisional-radiative model. Population inversions on free-bound transitions can be produced by photoionization above a threshold of incident X-ray laser intensity and lead to stimulated free-bound emission (SFBE). Free-bound lasers pumped by intense X-ray lasers are proposed and their feasibility is investigated simply considering X-ray laser interaction plasmas.