Femtosecond-Scale Time Resolved Measurements of Intense Laser-Plasma Interactions

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Research into intense laser-plasma interactions has over the past 15 years, resulted in the development of compact and intense sources of high energy electrons, protons, heavy ions, neutrons and gamma-rays. Applications for these new sources include medical imaging, ion oncology and inertial confinement fusion. Making these applications a reality however will require a deeper understanding of the underlying ultrafast dynamics of the intense laser-plasma interactions. To date, time-resolved measurements of these dynamics, on femtosecond time scales, have eluded researchers. With this project we propose to develop, for the first time, a high-energy, short-pulse source of supercontinuum light using both national and international high-power laser facilities as well as the newly developed SCAPA facility based at Strathclyde. This intense source of supercontinuum light will enable the first femtosecond scale, multi-timeframe optical probing of intense laser-plasma interactions. The aim of this PhD studentship is to: (1) Contribute to the design, modelling and experimental development of the supercontinuum probe. (2) Contribute to a broader experimental program investigating the underlying physics of laser-plasma interactions and their applications. (3) Contribute to the first temporally resolved laser-plasma experiments using the high energy supercontinuum optical probe technique.