Ultrafast laser-matter interaction and high field science

拟议的研究计划将利用INRS开发和安装的高级激光光源（ALLS）设施的独特性能。Kieffer教授计划的主要目标是利用200 TW/50 W ALLS系统可以实现的相对论强度扩展高场物理学的前沿。该激光系统同时表现出高重复频率（10 Hz）、短脉冲持续时间（25 fs）、高激光脉冲对比度（10-10：1）和焦平面中高于1020 W/cm 2的激光强度。申请人将在以下三个相互关联的方向进行创新研究： 第一个主题集中在固体密度的物质等容加热到极端温度和激光活塞加速的物质。具体的目标是探索生产和加速热固体等离子体板的超薄箔与超高强度和超短/超洁净激光脉冲的照射。 第二个主题是关于超快X射线源的产生。具体目标是产生亚几百飞秒的硬X射线闪光。申请人将探索使用经历非常非线性动力学效应的电子产生多keV X射线的超快脉冲，所述非常非线性动力学效应涉及气体靶中的激光场（激光电子感应加速器效应）和相对论强度。 第三个领域是强激光加速质子。具体目标是研究质子通过辐射压力的加速，并表征质子流（光谱，剂量）与高峰和平均功率的ALLS系统与不同的束流形状，目标和相互作用的几何形状。

The proposed research program will take advantage of the unique properties of the Advanced Laser Light Source (ALLS) facility that has been developed and installed at INRS. The main goal of Prof. Kieffer program is to extend frontiers in high field physics using the relativistic intensities that can be achieved with the 200TW/50W ALLS system. This laser system exhibits simultaneously a high repetition rate (10 Hz), a short pulse duration (25 fs), a high laser pulse contrast ratio (10-10:1) and laser intensities in the focal plane above 1020 W/cm2. The applicant will pursue innovative research in the following three directions that are inter-related: A first theme focus on isochoric heating of matter at solid density up to extreme temperatures and on laser piston acceleration of matter. The specific goal is to explore the production and acceleration of hot solid plasmas slabs by irradiation of ultra-thin foils with ultra-intense and ultrashort/ultraclean laser pulses. A second theme is on the generation of ultrafast X-ray sources. The specific goal is to produce sub-hundreds femtosecond hard x-ray flash. The applicant will explore the generation of ultrafast pulse of multi-keV X-rays using electrons undergoing very non-linear dynamics effects involving the laser fields (the laser betatron effect) in gas targets and at relativistics intensities. The third area is proton acceleration by intense laser field. The specific goal is to study the acceleration of protons through radiation pressure and to characterize protons currents (spectrum, dose) with the high peak and average power ALLS system with different beam shapes, targets and interaction geometries.