Plasma as ultra-fast optical switch using relativistic transparency

ORAL

Abstract

Laser-plasma interaction leading to relativistic transparency (RT) in 100 nm thick Diamond-Like-Carbon (DLC) nanofoil has been directly observed at an intensity of 2 10$^{20}$ W/cm$^{2}$ by measuring the shape and temporal phase of the pulse reflected from the plasma using a single shot Frequency-Resolved-Optical-Gating (FROG). The reflected light intensity drops sharply at the onset of RT with its temporal phase capturing the time dependant interaction dynamics. The corresponding spectrum is shifted to the red side extending up to $\sim $100 nm from the laser light pressure rapidly moving the critical surface away from the laser. Results from a 2D-VPIC simulation are very well consistent with measurements.

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Authors

  • Sasikumar Palaniyappan

    • Los Alamos Natl. Lab.
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Rahul Shah

    • LANL
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Hui Wu

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Daniel Jung

    • Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit\"at M\"unchen

  • Donald Gautier

    • Los Alamos Natl. Lab.
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Lin Yin

    • Los Alamos Natl. Lab.
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Brian Albright

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Randall Johnson

    • LANL
    • Los Alamos Natl. Lab.
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Tsutomo Shimada

    • LANL
    • Los Alamos Natl. Lab.
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Samuel Letzring

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Juan Fernandez

    • Los ALamos National Laboratory
    • Los Alamos Natl. Lab.
    • Los Alamos National Laboratory

  • Bjorn Hegelich

    • Los Alamos National Laboratory
    • Los Alamos Natl. Lab.