We report on the x-ray absorption of Warm Dense Matter experiment at the FLASH Free Electron Laser (FEL) facility at DESY. The FEL beam is used to produce Warm Dense Matter with soft x-ray absorption as the probe of electronic structure. A multilayer-coated parabolic mirror focuses the FEL radiation, to spot sizes as small as 0.3μm in a ~15fs pulse of containing >1012 photons at 13.5 nm wavelength, onto a thin sample. Silicon photodiodes measure the transmitted and reflected beams, while spectroscopy provides detailed measurement of the temperature of the sample. The goal is to measure over a range of intensities approaching 1018 W/cm2. Experimental results will be presented along with theoretical calculations. A brief report on future FEL efforts will be given.
R. Fäustlin, S. Toleikis, Th. Bornath, T. Döppner, S. Düsterer, E. Förster, C. Fortmann, S. Glenzer, S. Göde, G. Gregori, R. Irsig, T. Laarmann, H. Lee, B. Li, K.-H. Meiwes-Broer, J. Mithen, A. Przystawik, H. Redlin, R. Redmer, H. Reinholz, G. Röpke, F. Tavella, R. Thiele, J. Tiggesbäumker, I. Uschmann, U. Zastrau, Th. Tschentscher
We present collective Thomson scattering with soft x-ray free electron laser radiation as a method to track the evolution
of warm dense matter plasmas with ~200 fs time resolution. In a pump-probe scheme an 800 nm laser heats a 20 μm
hydrogen droplet to the plasma state. After a variable time delay in the order of ps the plasma is probed by an x-ray ultra
violet (XUV) pulse which scatters from the target and is recorded spectrally. Alternatively, in a self-Thomson scattering
experiment, a single XUV pulse heats the target while a portion of its photons are being scattered probing the target.
From such inelastic x-ray scattering spectra free electron temperature and density can be inferred giving insight on
relaxation time scales in plasmas as well as the equation of state. We prove the feasibility of this method in the XUV
range utilizing the free electron laser facility in Hamburg, FLASH. We recorded Thomson scattering spectra for
hydrogen plasma, both in the self-scattering and in the pump-probe mode using optical laser heating.
In this paper we describe recent studies on X-ray emission from ultra-fast laser interactions with solids. We describe
the dedicated equipment including a powerful femtosecond, Titanium-Sapphire laser system and custom developed
diagnostics for the characterization of both the laser performance and the X-ray emission. We show the experimental
results obtained from irradiation of Aluminium and Titanium targets including X-ray yield and spectra obtained using
single-photon counting and spectroscopy. We discuss correlation of X-ray emission with the measured properties of hot
electrons emerging from the target rear side. In particular, forward accelerated fast electrons propagating through a Ti
foil are found to be emitted in a cone perpendicular to the target. A comparison of the experimental findings with the
results of a PIC simulation is also reported, aimed at identifying the physical processes responsible for the production of
this forward propagating population of fast electrons. Finally, we show results of simple optical spectroscopy
measurements of scattered light and we discuss the use of these results in view of optimization and control of this kind of
X-ray sources.
Ultrafast structural changes in the subpicosecond time domain were studied by using X-rays produced by a femtosecond laser. An upgraded 1 kHz table-top laser was used for optical pump X-ray probe experiments on germanium crystals. The number of laser generated Ti Kα and Cu Kα photons are either 5×1010 or 1.2×1010 per second. In this study, the Ti Kα rays were Bragg reflected on the 311 net planes of a toroidal silicon crystal. The germanium sample crystal was placed in the focus of the Ti Kα radiation and reflected it from the 111 plane to be detected by a CCD camera. An ultrafast optical pulse caused by the same kHz laser generates reversible strain pulses in the germanium crystal. By using different time delays between pump and probe pulses time-resolved rocking curves were obtained. The thermoelastic model of Thomsen, used in rocking curve simulations satisfactorily, explains the main features of strain evolution in Ge. Explanation of the remaining deviations between experimental and simulated curves needs a consideration of band gap deformation potential to be included in the simulation.
Diagnostic information obtained from x-ray emission accompanying the laser-matter interaction represents a primary tool for identification and exploitation of phenomena occurring in hot dense plasmas. To fully utilize the potential contained in the shapes and shifts of the spectral lines, sophisticated high-resolution instruments have been developed. The basic spectroscopic conceptions for K-shell plasma diagnosis are outlined. The main characteristics of toroidally bent crystal spectrometers and vertical-dispersion instruments are briefly reviewed. The applications of high-precision x-ray spectrometers in investigation of strongly correlated plasmas are demonstrated on a detailed analysis of the spectral line emission from two types of laser-produced plasmas. The redults of experiments performed at 0.4 ns laser system ASTERIX and 150 fs system ATLAS are presented, the diverse character of the observed line profiles and the dense-plasma line shifts to red is discussed. The conclusions for the line shift-based plasma diagnosis are drawn.
K-shell emission spectra from laser-exploded aluminum foils and mylar foils with aluminum dots are recorded with a high spectral and spatial resolution using vertical-geometry Johann spectrometer. The experiments are modelled using cylindrical version of two-dimensional hydrocode "ATLANT." We describe our novel atomic physics post-processor "XEPAP" that is used here for the synthesis of the emission spectra. The predictions of the simulations are compared with the experimental spectra and the parameters of the emitting plasmas are deduced.
The soft x-ray emission from He-like and H-like were obtained by using the double nozzle gas-puff (Nitrogen, and Oxygen) target irradiated by the laser which delivered a laser energy of 50 mJ in 400 ps pulse width. Efficient absorption of the incident laser energy into the double gas-puff target was demonstrated experimentally such as 15%, and 29% for Nitrogen and Oxygen, respectively. The sub keV x-ray emission from He-β(1s2-1s2p, 1s2-1s3p, and 1s2-1s4p) lines are observed around the 0.4 nm wavelength region by using the double nozzle Argon gas-puff target irradiated by a 5 J, 1 ns, 1 μm laser. Using the gas-puff target irradiated by a femto-second laser pulse, highly ionized ions of Cr-, Fe- and Ni-like Kr at the 5 - 20 nm wavelength region have been observed in a laser produced plasma. However, the intensity of the x-ray emissions from double nozzle gas-puff target are lower than that from the single nozzle gas-puff targets, using the Krypton gas. Using xenon gas, the intensity of the x-ray emissions from double nozzle gas-puff target is equivalent to that from the single nozzle target.
In this paper we discuss some result achieved at Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquee that may improve the capabilities of the laser-produced plasma x-ray source for applications in the study of ultrafast transient structures.
We have characterized the ultrafast solid-liquid transition of InSb and CdTe semiconductors by time resolved x-ray diffraction in the femtosecond timescale. Visible spectroscopic data were obtained together with x-ray measurements to characterize the dense electron-ho9le plasma at the origin of the phase transition following the IR excitation.
Non-thermal melting of semiconductor crystals, phase transitions on a sub-picosecond time scale can be studied by optical pump x-ray probe experiments. Powerful femtosecond lasers deliver brilliant ultrashort K(alpha ) pulses on a time scale from 100 fs to 1 ps that can be optimized for these pump-probe experiments. These experiments consist of two diffracting elements: (i) a bent crystal imaging the flash x-ray source in a narrow spectral window; and (ii) the sample crystal diffracting the ultrashort x-ray pulse. As penetration depths of optical pump beam are usually much shorter than x-ray extinction depths, best sensitivity to ultrafast structural changes is obtained for minimum x-ray extinction depths. This can be achieved by selecting samples containing heavy elements, thin crystalline film samples and by using asymmetric Bragg reflections, respectively. Several theoretical codes have been developed to optimize design of the instruments. X-ray topographic cameras and diffractometers were modified for fabrication and characterization of 2D bent crystals. Best practical results were obtained when structurally perfect wafers of Si, Ge, and quartz crystals were prepared while monitored by x-ray topography and diffractometry. After a final check of x-ray imaging and reflection properties of the toroidal crystals, monochromatic x-ray beam and laser pump beam are adjusted spatially to coincide on the sample crystal. Because converging x-rays impinge on the sample crystal, its rocking curve can be registered as a spatial distribution on the detector. In comparison to synchrotron experiments where about 104 pulses must be integrated, in these experiments rocking curves can be recorded in a single or in a few laser shots. Ultrafast processes are studied in Langmuir Blodgett films containing Cd, in bulk semiconductors, such as InSb, and in CdTe semiconductor films. Focused, pulsed monochromatic x-rays have been transmitted through biological samples to register many reflections, which opens the way to ultrafast studies in structural biology.
We focused ultra short frequency doubled laser pulses on solid AL targets with a thin surface layer of carbon as tamper material. Iso choric heating of aluminum can be achieved this way. We are investigating the K-shell emission by means of a high resolution von Hamos crystal spectrometer. The spectra show line broadening and shifting compared to low density plasma emission. From spectral analysis an electron temperature of (200-400)eV at an electron density close to solid sate are determined. Time resolved spectra are detected by coupling a conical crystal to a sub-ps x-ray streak camera in accumulation mode, providing a time resolution of 0.9 ps when averaging over a large number of laser shots. K-shell line durations in the range of (1-2) ps are observed this way.
The absolutely calibrated K-shell spectra emitted form short-living aluminum plasma at laser intensities of 5 by 1015- 4 by 1018 W/cm2 are reported. The experiments performed with the constant energy, variable-length laser pulse are modeled by the 1D hydrodynamics code including non-linear resonance absorption of the laser radiation, fast electron acceleration and energy transfer into the target. The characteristic features of the measured and the post- processed spectra are outlined; the scaling rules for the conversion efficiency of the laser radiation into the line x-ray emission are discussed.
The emission from plasmas created with fs-lasers provides sub-picosecond x-ray pulses in the keV-range. Intense emission of K(alpha) lines as well as quasi continuum x-rays can be used for time-resolved diffraction and spectroscopy, i.e. to study lattice or atomic dynamics with sub-picosecond resolution by using a laser pump x-ray probe technique. The x-ray yield and x-ray pulse duration of the laser plasma source depend on the laser parameters and the target design, such as intensity, laser wavelength, pulse duration and prepulse level. To accumulate as many photons as possible of the isotropic source an efficient large aperture optic has to be used to select an x-ray line or a wavelength range and focus the radiation onto the sample. It is shown that the use of toroidally bent crystals provides the possibility to refocus 10-4 of the photons emitted in the whole solid angel to spot size of around 80 micrometers with a temporal broadening below 100 fs. Combinations of bent focusing crystals with a flat sample crystal for fast x-ray diffraction application are discussed. Experiments showing the temporal response of laser heated crystals are presented and compared with theoretical simulations based on Takagi-Taupin theory.
X-ray spectroscopy is one of the most important diagnostics of laser-produced plasmas, finding application in diverse areas such as laser fusion, x-ray lasers, and novel experiments using shot-pulse lasers to probe chemical and biological phenomena on the femtosecond timescale. Depending on the aims of these experiments, either high resolution spectra combined with either spatial or time resolution, or monochromatic x-ray spectrometer was also used here in x-ray diagnostics of 4f yields 3d transitions in Nickel-like transitions of elements with atomic numbers between 70 and 74. The dependence of this x-ray emission on laser energy, spot size, and target materials provides information about ionization degree, electron temperature and density - important parameters for the population inversion of a Ni- like x-ray laser in the water window.
In the direct-drive scheme implosion of the inertial confinement fusion, the hot spark formation is critically affected by laser irradiation non-uniformities and subsequent hydrodynamic instabilities. Influence of the low- modal irradiation non-uniformities on the hot spark formation was investigated by means of the time- and space- resolved x-ray spectroscopic measurements. Experimental results were compared with post-processed hydro-code simulations by the aid of x-ray spectrum analysis code.
We report experimental results on Ni-like x-ray laser at the wavelength as short as 4.4 nm. The performance of x-ray lasing pumped by various types of pulse trains which were composed of 100 ps pulses was investigated with a double slab targets which were placed in series to double the gain length. Two opposing laser beams irradiated the double targets with a suitable time difference for quasi traveling wave pumping. The well collimated double target amplification was successfully demonstrated with two beam irradiation for Yb and Hf lasing at 5.0 nm and 4.7 nm whose gain length products were 11 and 6, respectively. The Ni- like lasing line of Ta have been observed at 4.5 nm. Based on these results, we will report the suitable pumping condition for the saturated water window x-ray lasers.
Optical pump, x-ray diffraction probe experiments have been used to study the lattice dynamics of organic materials using a laser-produced plasma x-ray source. The x-ray source is generated from a 10 Hz, 26 mJ, 120 fs laser beam focused on a silicon wafer target. The emitted K(alpha ) x-ray radiation is used to probe a cadmium arachidate Langmuir-Blodgett film and a TlAP crystal optically perturbed at laser fluences from 1.8 J/cm2 to 27 J/cm2. Ultrafast disordering inside the lattice -- within a time scale below 600 fs to few tens of picoseconds -- is clearly observed and produce a drop of the probe x-ray diffracted signal.
Laser-plasma X-ray sources can reach peak brilliances comparable to synchrotron sources, with pulse durations up to 3 orders of magnitude shorter. Future applications of these sources in the investigation of femtosecond phenomena are particularly attractive because of their low cost and wide accessibility. Even modest laser systems can be used for single-shot experiments when combined with optimized crystal optics and sensitive detectors. Crystals are considered here for ultrafast absorption spectroscopy, in which both the variation of the penetration depth of x-rays and expansion of the source have to be taken into account. For real-time diffractometry, a combination of a toroidally-bent crystal together with a thin flat sample-crystal with low dispersion is proposed. Such arrangements can also be used to measure X- ray pulse duration or to shorten synchrotron pulses in the picosecond region.
X-ray K- and L-shell emission from aluminum and carbon plasmas produced by subpicosecond UV-laser pulses has been investigated using various spectrographs. The spectra have been measured as a function of laser intensity in the range from 1014 W/cm2 to 1018 W/cm2. A computer simulation including reabsorption of the resonance lines has been performed and the observed and calculated spectra compared. Plasma parameters have been deduced by line emission and continuous emission observations. It has been found that for high laser intensities the resonance line emission and that from the satellites comes from the overdense region. A scaling of the electron temperature with the irradiance has been obtained. From the x-ray spectra measured at different laser intensities, the thresholds for the formation of hydrogen-like and helium-like ions in aluminum and carbon plasmas have been determined.
The collision of laser-produced plasmas has been diagnosed by x-ray spectroscopy and imaging. The two colliding plasmas are produced on Al thin foils at a distance of 200 to 900 micrometers irradiated at (lambda) equals 0.53 micrometers with laser intensities of 3 X 1013 to 6 X 1013 W/cm2. Interpretation of the plasmas was visualized by replacing one of the foils material by magnesium. The main diagnostics were x-ray crystal optics based on flat, cylindrical, and toroidal crystals viewing the inter-target space. A multifluid eulerian monodimensional hydrodynamic code coupled with a radiative-atomic package provided simulations of the experiments. Hydrodynamic 2D simulations calculating the lateral expansion of the plasma enabled a reliable treatment of reabsorption along the line of sight of the spectrographs. The size and the time duration of the collision, the plasma parameters in the collision region (Te, Ti, and ne) and interpenetration were measured. The hydrocode simulations give a good understanding of the behavior of the collision in function of intertarget distance and laser intensity.
Using doubly bent crystal optics, x-ray imaging of a plasma source with doubly bent crystal optics is investigated, employing both the ray-tracing and the wave-optics approaches. The description of the x-ray plasma imaging experiment is given, which includes the considerations of the crystal, the reflection, and the bending radius selections for achieving a spectral resolution up to 10-4 without compromising the diffracted intensity. The principles of these two approaches are discussed and applied to the experimental case for the x-ray radiation of the Ly(beta) line of hydrogen-like Argon ions. Results of the calculations are compared and for the discrepancies explained. It is found between these two approaches that the principal difference in the results of the calculations can be attributed to the optical Fresnel diffraction effect, which is not taken into account in the ray-tracing method.
This article describes the first experiment of our groups to combine monochromatic x-ray imaging with a time-resolving detector i.e., a streak camera and a 120 ps gated framing camera. The aim of setting such a time-resolved diagnostic is to image the x-ray emission from colliding plasmas with high spatial resolution in a very narrow spectral window. Both camera types were tested and the adjustment procedure for the crystal was tested with film as a detector. The obtained spectral and spatial resolution of the x-ray microscope was measured.
X-ray spectroscopy of laser-generated plasmas has been performed by using two non- conventional variants of the double-crystal spectrometer and the Johann spectrometer. They provide a very high spectral resolution in a limited spectral range that covers, for example, the range of a resonance line and its satellites. The excellent luminosity of the vertical variant of the Johann spectrometer makes its application very attractive, in spite of the need for exact testing and alignment.
Monochromatic x-ray imaging can deliver either two-dimensionally (2-D) space resolved or 1- D space and time resolved distributions of source emission, depending on the detector type. The spectral window of imaging is typically from 10-4 to 10-2 if 2-D bent crystals are used in the spectral range from about 0.1 nm up to 2.5 nm. A precision technology for bending thin crystalline wafers has been developed. Spatial resolution and crystal reflectivity have to be determined for each crystal. As an example, three time- integrated monochromatic x-ray images of two aluminum plasmas with a counterstreaming region are shown. They were obtained Hedelta, Hebeta, and Hegamma lines of Al ions with the help of a three channel x-ray microscope.
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