Large quasistatic magnetic fields generated by a relativistically intense laser pulse propagating in a preionized plasma

Two spatially separated toroidal magnetic fields in the megagauss range have been detected with Faraday rotation during and after propagation of a relativistically intense laser pulse through preionized plasmas. Besides a field in the outer region of the plasma oriented as a conventional thermoelectric field, a field with the opposite orientation closely surrounding the propagation axis is observed, in conditions under which relativistic channeling occurs. A 3D particle-in-cell code was used to simulate the interaction under the conditions of the experiment.

Megagauss magnetic field generation and plasma jet formation on solid targets irradiated by an ultraintense picosecond laser pulse

The spatial and temporal evolution of spontaneous megagauss magnetic fields, generated during the interaction of a picosecond pulse with solid targets at irradiances above 5 x 10(18) W/cm(2) have been measured using Faraday rotation with picosecond resolution. A high density plasma jet has been observed simultaneously with the magnetic fields by interferometry and optical emission. Two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations reproduced the main features of the experiment and showed that the jet formation is due to pinching by the magnetic fields.

ABSORPTION AND EMISSION-SPECTRA OF THE YBCO LASER PLUME

The plasma produced during laser ablation deposition of thin film YBCO has been studied by optical emission spectroscopy. There is evidence of increased YO band emission in the range 590-625 nm as the ambient oxygen gas pressure confining the plume is increased in the range 30-200 m Torr. Temporal profiles show that close to the target the plume is insensitive to ambient oxygen pressure. It is deduced that the optical emission here is excited by electron impact excitation. Further away from the target there is evidence that two distinct processes are at work. One is again electron excitation; the emission from this process decreases with distance because the expanding plume cools and collisions become less frequent in the expanding gas. The second is driven by oxidation of atomic species expelled at high speeds from the target. The main region of this activity is in the plume sheath where a shock front ensures heating of ambient O2 and reaction of monatomic plasma species to form oxide in an exothermic reaction. Spatial mapping of the emission demonstrates clearly how increasing oxygen gas pressure confines the plasma and enhances the emission intensity from the molecular YO species ejected from the target in a smaller region close to the target. Ba+ is observed as a dominant species only very close to (within 1 mm of) the target. Absorption spectra have been taken in an attempt to examine ground state and cool species in the plume. They reveal the quite surprising result that YO persists in the chamber for periods up to 1 msec. This suggests an explanation for the recent report of off-axis laser deposition in terms of simple condensation. Previously, quasi-ballistic transfer of material from target to substrate has been considered the only significant process.

EMISSION STUDIES OF THE PLUME PRODUCED DURING YBA2CU3O7 FILM PRODUCTION BY LASER-ABLATION

The optical plume emissions produced on excimer laser ablation of a YBa2Cu3O7 target are reported and identified with the various atomic, ionic, and molecular species present. The spatial and temporal distribution of these emissions were studied as a function of the laser fluence and oxygen pressure. At the laser fluences used (4-6 J/cm(2)) some target material is ablated or evaporated directly in molecular form. In addition efficient formation of molecular oxides is observed at the contact front of the expanding plume with the surrounding oxygen atmosphere. The intensity and spatial distribution of oxide emission in the visible plume therefore provides a sensitive diagnostic for optimization of substrate location and deposition conditions.

SUPERCONDUCTING YBA2CU3O7 THIN-FILMS ON MGO BY KRF LASER ABLATION - OPTIMIZATION OF DEPOSITION PARAMETERS

The optimization of interrelated deposition parameters during deposition of in situ YBa2Cu3O7 thin films on MgO substrates by KrF laser ablation was systematically studied in a single experimental chamber. The optimum condition was found to be a substrate temperature of 720-degrees-C and a target-substrate distance of 5 cm in an oxygen partial pressure of 100 mTorr. These conditions produced films with T(c) = 87 K. The presence of YO in the plasma plume was found to be important in producing good quality films. The films were characterized by resistance-temperature measurements, energy dispersive x-ray analyses, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray-diffraction measurements, and the physical reasons underlying film quality degradation at parameter values away from optimal are discussed.

Employing Laser-Accelerated Proton Beams to Diagnose High Intensity Laser-Plasma Interactions

A review of the proton radiography technique will be presented. This technique employs laser-accelerated laminar bunches of protons to diagnose the temporal and spatial characteristic of the electric and magnetic fields generated during high-intensity laser-plasma interactions. The remarkable temporal and spatial resolution that this technique can achieve (of the order of a picosecond and a few microns respectively) candidates this technique as the preferrable one, if compared to other techniques, to probe high intensity laser-matterinteractions.