Plasma-based prism compressor design for high-intensity laser pulses

A concept for a femtosecond pulse compressor based on underdense plasma prisms is presented. An analytical model is developed to calculate the spectral phase incurred and the expected pulse compression. A 2D particle-in-cell simulation verifies the analytical model. Simulated intensities ( ${\sim...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: S. Avrutsky, J. P. Palastro, A. G. R. Thomas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-01-01
Series:High Power Laser Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2095471925000180/type/journal_article
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Summary:A concept for a femtosecond pulse compressor based on underdense plasma prisms is presented. An analytical model is developed to calculate the spectral phase incurred and the expected pulse compression. A 2D particle-in-cell simulation verifies the analytical model. Simulated intensities ( ${\sim} {10}^{16}$ W/cm2) were orders of magnitude higher than the damage threshold for conventional gratings used in chirped pulse amplification. Theoretical geometries for compact (tens of cm scale) compressors for 1, 10 and 100 PW power levels are proposed.
ISSN:2095-4719
2052-3289