Plasma devices to guide and collimate a high density of MeV electrons

R. Kodama (), Y. Sentoku, Z. L. Chen, G. R. Kumar, S. P. Hatchett, Y. Toyama, T. E. Cowan, R. R Freeman, J. Fuchs, Y. Izawa, M. H. Key, Y. Kitagawa, K. Kondo, T. Matsuoka, H. Nakamura, M. Nakatsutsumi, P. A. Norreys, T. Norimatsu, R. A. Snavely, R. B. Stephens, M. Tampo, K. A. Tanaka and T. Yabuuchi
Additional contact information
R. Kodama: Osaka University
Y. Sentoku: University of Nevada
Z. L. Chen: Osaka University
G. R. Kumar: Osaka University
S. P. Hatchett: University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Y. Toyama: Osaka University
T. E. Cowan: University of Nevada
R. R Freeman: The Ohio State University
J. Fuchs: University of Nevada
Y. Izawa: Osaka University
M. H. Key: University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Y. Kitagawa: Osaka University
K. Kondo: Faculty of Engineering and Institute of Laser Engineering Osaka University
T. Matsuoka: Osaka University
H. Nakamura: Osaka University
M. Nakatsutsumi: Osaka University
P. A. Norreys: Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton
T. Norimatsu: Osaka University
R. A. Snavely: University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
R. B. Stephens: General Atomics
M. Tampo: Osaka University
K. A. Tanaka: Faculty of Engineering and Institute of Laser Engineering Osaka University
T. Yabuuchi: Osaka University

Nature, 2004, vol. 432, issue 7020, 1005-1008

Abstract: Abstract The development of ultra-intense lasers1 has facilitated new studies in laboratory astrophysics2 and high-density nuclear science3, including laser fusion4,5,6,7. Such research relies on the efficient generation of enormous numbers of high-energy charged particles. For example, laser–matter interactions at petawatt (1015 W) power levels can create pulses of MeV electrons8,9,10 with current densities as large as 1012 A cm-2. However, the divergence of these particle beams5 usually reduces the current density to a few times 106 A cm-2 at distances of the order of centimetres from the source. The invention of devices that can direct such intense, pulsed energetic beams will revolutionize their applications. Here we report high-conductivity devices consisting of transient plasmas that increase the energy density of MeV electrons generated in laser–matter interactions by more than one order of magnitude. A plasma fibre created on a hollow-cone target guides and collimates electrons in a manner akin to the control of light by an optical fibre and collimator. Such plasma devices hold promise for applications using high energy-density particles and should trigger growth in charged particle optics.

Date: 2004
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DOI: 10.1038/nature03133

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