Research

Solid-state oscillator for 1.3 µm

Development of the new solid-state front end oscillator for the iodine amplifier chain, using both OPO (tuneable optical parametric oscillator) and Pr:doped fiber-based techniques.

OPCPA pilot testing for 1.3 µm

Studies of OPCPA technique using the third harmonics (438 nm) of the iodine laser as a pump. The test system should help to determine parameters of an OPCPA chain being an upgrade of the PALS system, with a potential to achieve the peak power of one petawatt or higher.

Adaptive optics for high-power lasers and wavefront sensing

Radial shear interferometer for accurate wavefront profile measurements of beams with a diameter of up to 100 mm, measurements of beam wavefront distortion across the PALS iodine laser chain. Development of a sensitive 2D detection system for 1.3 µm.

X-ray lasers and applications

Multi-millijoule X-ray laser near 21 nm with high beam quality for interferometry and reflection holography at short wavelengths. Lloyd’s mirror interferometer for X-ray surface interferometry and holography. Applications of multilayer X-ray optics, development of X-ray lasers near 14 nm.

Development of high-yield sources of multiply ionised ions of heavy elements, such as Ta, W, Au, and Bi, from expanding laser plasmas. Applications for accelerator injection and a direct ion implantation into substrates. Record ion current densities achieved at 1 m from the focus amount up to 10 mAcm^-2 for Ta⁴⁵⁺.

Studies of surface processing, such as ablation, by incoherent soft X-rays from laser plasmas. Formation of surface profiles by direct material removal of e.g. PMMA, Teflon, PET, and Si. Thermoluminescent dosimetry of soft X-rays produced by ultrahigh-brightness sources using e.g. CaF₂:Dy crystals.

X-ray spectroscopy

X-ray keV spectroscopy of laser plasmas, as a means of the space resolved plasma diagnostics to determine e.g. plasma temperature, density, velocity field, or electrical field. Measurement of polarisation shifts in hot and dense aluminium plasmas.

Hydrodynamic 2D Lagrangian modelling of processes on target surface in double pulse illumination regime. Effect of thermal smoothing of beam imprint inhomogeneities by a prepulse plasma.

Experimental investigation of thermal smoothing of illumination inhomogeneities by using a two-colour double pulse or a foam-covered target. Imaging heat-conduction zone using either 3-w interferometry or X-ray backlighting.