Ultrafast X-ray and Ion sources from multi-PW lasers

Matt Zepf
Queens University Belfast

Outline
Ion Acceleration via Radiation Pressure Acceleration
GeV/u Narrow energy distributions Attosecond ion bunches First demonstration of Light-sail regime

Relativistically Oscillating Mirrors (HHG from Solid Targets)

Relativistically oscillating mirrors Attosecond and zeptosecond pulses Extreme brightness with ELI conditions

Relativistic Mirrors
Light Sail Regime (thin target) Holeboring regime (Semi-infinite target)

THE TNSA Mechanism

(Target Normal Sheath Accleleration))
Hot electron propagation MeV energy, C charge MeV/u protons and ions I>1019Wcm2 a0>3
Target

Relatvistic electron production Typical targets: Metallic foils

Space charge field:

E~Thot/

Debye~MeV/m=10

12V/m

Proton Source: CH Contamination on foil surfaces (typically ~50)

Typical results
10
11

Protons/MeV

1010 10 10
9

15 J 42 J 110 J

107 10
6

10 15 20 25 30 35 Proton Kinetic Energy (MeV)

40

Target: 10m Al Temperature ~ 1.8 MeV for 12 J ~ 5 MeV for 85J Energy conversion ~2 10-3 for 12 J ~5 10-2 for 85 J ~1 10-1 for 400 J Efficiency at 30-35 MeV -5 -4 hot~10 -10

Typical divergence: 30-60

10 MeV 17 MeV 22 MeV

Beam quality

From Cowan et al, PRL 2004

nm scale surface perturbations are still visible - irreducible emittance of <0.004 mm mrad m scale virtual source 30-60 divergence
Plasma

~10-3mm x 1 rad ~ 1 mm mrad

Excellent probe for fields in plasmas (M. Borghesi et al.)

Laser accelerated protons - an exciting source for the future

Unique for short pulse duration
Unrivalled for time resolved probing Excellent emittance

Compared to conventional accelerators what do we need to be competitive?

Higher average flux Narrow angular distribution Narrow energy distribution (not simply slicing) Higher endpoint energy
200 MeV protons required for 200mm range in H2O (e.g. for hadron therapy) Fewer particles at higher repetition rate (e.g. hadron therapy)

Beam energy scaling typically ~I1/2

Can we do better?
Schreiber et al., PRL (2006)
(Robson, et al., Nature Physics (2006) 500fs scaling: 200 MeV protons requires >4 10 21Wcm-2 (>1kJ) Schreiber Scaling: 200 MeV at 100J, 40fs Efficiency into >200 MeV around 10-5-10-4 !

A novel approach is required Radiation Pressure Acceleration (RPA)

Extreme Laser pressure at high intensities: PL=2I/c=6 Gbar @ 1019Wcm-2

Velocity estimated by momentum conserv. (accelerated mass balances laser momentum) niMivi2= vi2=I/c

30fs

vi=(I/ c)1/2

60fs

Ei~I
Radiation Pressure Accelearation scales faster than TNSA

Wilks et al (PRL 92) Zepf et al., Phys. Plasmas (1996)

Radiation Pressure Acceleration

- using circular polarisation (e.g. Robinson, Zepf et al, New J. Phys, 2008)
Charge density

L Relativisitic equations of motion for whole foil acceleration: LIGHT SAIL REGIME

~ I/ ~I/

niMiL

In the limit of thin foils, extreme intensity: Ep~ GeV

At I>1023 Wcm-2RPA dominates over TNSA: GeV protons with quasi-monoenergetic distribution for Elaser=10kJ
(Simulations by Esirkepov et al., PRL 175003 (2004))

Far beyond ELI first stage

Intermediate intensity - RPA and TNSA coexist

RPA

At 5 1020 Wcm-2 acceleration due to radiation pressure becomes comparable to TNSA. Can we exploit the faster Emax I scaling?
L.O. Silva et al. PRL 92, 015002 (2004)

TNSA~I1/2

Problem: TNSA decompresses foil during RPA => Foil becomes transparent!

Radiation Pressure Acceleration

-circular polarisation suppresses TNSA
Proton Number (a.u.)
104 103

Proton Number (a.u.)

105

RPA Circ Pol

105

TNSA- Linear

104 103
102

40

102

102

200

600

1000

200

600

1000 106
105

Energy [MeV] y[m]

20 101 1.5 1.5

Energy [MeV]

Px/mpc

1
0.5 0

px/mpc

104 103 102

0.5
0 -0.5 80

10

100

x[m]

x[m]

120

160

-0.5 80

x[m]

120

160

101

(Robinson et al, NJP 2008)

For I=1021 Wcm2 Circular polarisation suppresses hot electron generation - no TNSA, few -rays RPA dominates for realistic intensities.

RPA scaling - a promising route

Foil thickness:100nm 150nm 250nm 350nm 500

1
.8

Proton energy [MeV]

400

Conversion Efficiency

300

.6 .4
.2

200

100
0 300

100

200

400

400

Time (fs)

200 MeV predicted in quasi-monoenergetic beam at ~ 1021 Wcm-2 Efficiency into 200 MeV peak >60% Divergence angle: 4 Feasible ELI specfication laser at high repetition rate

Quasi-monoenergetic proton beams from RPA - first experimental demonstration

Data from LIBRA consortium taken on Astra GEMINI

Transition to the light-sail regime

Ep~I1.75 I=4 1020Wcm-2

I=9 1020Wcm-2

Ep~I0.8

Light Sail: acceleration to GeV/u at ELI parameters

Solid density bunch

Duration:100nm/c= 0.3 fs

Stable acceleration to GeV energies shown for I=26 10 22 Wcm-2 (Simulations: B. Qiao et al, PRL 2009)

Control of laser or target radial distribution essential for ultimate performance

Hi-Rep strategy for complex targets

Optical trapping

Wafer target production

beam directio n

Fg
rad

Fs
cat

Electrostatic Injection

RPA light sail the story so far.

RPAwith circular polarisation.
Low divergence High efficiency Quasi-Monoenergetic distribution Little other radiation (gammas, fast electrons)

Unique features
Extremly short bunches attosecond duration Ultrafast probing Solid density bunches (quasi-neutral) Synchronisation to optical sources at attosecond level possibl

Challenges
Maintaining 1D nature during acceleration. High repetition, high power lasers to drive accelerator GeV accelerator simulation E=0.5- 2kJ, 30 fs 200 MeV: E~100J, 60 fs,

Ultrabright laser driven attosecond sources 1) Relativistically Oscillating Mirrors

Extreme Intensities Coherent Harmonic Focusing Attosecond Bunching Tests of QED using the Relativistically Oscillating Mirror

Relativistically Oscillating Plasma Surfaces as non-linear medium

Courtesy of G. Tsakiris, MPQ

Electron kinetic energy = rest mass for a0=(I 2/1.37 1018Wcm-2)1/2=1 Highly relativistic for a0>>1 ( ~a0) Relativistically Oscillating Surface

Shorter Pulses - Higher Frequencies The relativistic Doppler effect

f out f in

1 v /c ~4 1 v /c

tout 1 ~ 2 t in 4

=10fs, =800nm

=33

=2.5as, =2,

ELI laser can generate Relativistic Mirrors

Upshifting from an oscillating surface

Laser Driven Oscillation X(t) vs c

Plasma
t

At these times high harmonics are generated!

s

Rest Position

~T0/
2

max

vs c

1)Upshifting is restricted to a short time ~T0/ max. 2)The upshifted pulse has a duration of O~ / ~ T0/ From Fourier theory, the spectrum must extend to frequencies O~

Predicted pulse duration ~10-19s=100zeptoseconds for =20

A sufficiently intense laser can be used to move electrons in a target at relativistic velocities.
A sharp edged plasma will act as an oscillating, relativistic mirror. with = [1+a02/2]1/2
10-30 is possible with latest lasers
Gordienko et al. PRL 93, 115001, 2004

Dromey et al., Nature Physics, (2006.)

Experimental data From Vulcan PW

Orders > 1000, keV harmonics!

asymptotic efficiency ~n-8/3for >>1 Harmonics up to nmax~81/2

Independent of intensity!

HHG BOOSTS theoretically achievable intensity.

Enhancement up to the Schwinger limit theoretically possible

(Gordienko et al. PRL,94, 103903 (2004)

Boost due to
Increased focusability Attosecond pulse duration

Ideal world: focal spot size reduced by n2

FLAT SURFACE Diffraction limited At a0>>1
Laser
n= Laser/n

PARABOLIC SURFACE Divergence: =f/D Diffraction limited focus ~f n/D

Target

Laser

Target

Focusing Harmonic
Reflected Laser

How realistic is this in the real world?

No phase distortions on target. No scattering of higher harmonic due to surface roughness.

Dynamic effects: Ponderomotive Denting

Ponderomotive denting due to Gbar light pressure
100 fs
30
0)

f
HARMONIC BEAM

y (c/

20 10 0 0

Laser

10

20
0)

30

Vacuum

x (c/

PLASMA

(from Wilks et al. PRL 1992)

Harmonics emitted into constant angle even for initially flat targets n=Max( Laser/n, f/D)

Experimental Results
Experimental dent vs PIC Divergence vs harmonic order I=2 1019Wcm-2 p=50fs
ROM orders Diffraction limit

500fs, 1020 Wcm-2

CWE orders

Angle

(mrad)

50fs, 1019 Wcm-2

Wavelength (nm) From: Dromey, Zepf, Nature Physics, 5, 146, 2009

Divergence and focus control

WAVEFRONT CONTROL
GAUSSIAN FOCUS

From Hrlein et al, EPJ D 55, 475481 (2009) Simulations by S. Rykovanov

SUPERGAUSSIAN

Preshaped targets (laser machining in situ?) Pulse duration (5fs -> 2mrad divergence in above expt.) Intensity distribution (supergaussian)

Is target roughness a limiting factor ? - diffuse or specular reflection for high orders
keV harmonics are beamed

Dromey et al, PRL 99, 085001 (2007)

Changing roughness does not affect specular reflection data consisten with denting only Specular reflection observed for initial roughness > n

Relativistic plasma dynamics smooth initial roughness

Initial roughness of target is smoothed out

Simulations by Sergey Rykovanov.

Focusing to extreme intensities appears feasible

Duration of attosecond pulses

nF

Extremely short pulses are possible

n=(21/p-1)nF

Harmonic efficiency slope as n-p

1000

Pulse duration (as)

100 10 1
10 100 1000 10000

Few as pulses possible <1keV

0.1 0.01

nF Zeptosecond@
>1keV

Attosecond pulse measurement

Harmonics 10 -14 (CWE)

XUV pulse train with ~0.9 fs duration (in collaboration with MPQ at ATLAS) Y. Nomura et al., Nature Physics 2009

Peak intensity of attosecond pulses

Pulse duration reduces Single harmonic with n: efficiency: ~n-1 ~n-8/3 Diffraction limited Pulse efficiency (for ~n focus: harmonics forming the Coherent superposition of entire spectrum ICHF=a03 I0 w0~n-2 as pulse) ~n-5/3

Intensity increases:

I max

E A

n 3 1 2 n n

43

Opens up new regime of high intensity X-ray science

Tool for probing vacuum physics

Probing vacuum bi-refringence

X-ray probe

Phase Shift:

d
probe
2

n
2

4 15
2

d I

probe crit

ellipticity:

Probe wavelength as short as possible (polarised X-ray) Intensity as high as possible, long interaction length

Practical experiments are challenging

Polariser Ultraintense laser (e.g. ELI

X-ray probe

Requires bright polarised X-ray probe Requires time synchronisation << laser Requires ultra-intense laser >>1024 Wcm-2 Requires excellent polariser

Relativistic Mirrors for experimental QED?

-Boosted intensity by CHF -Harmonics are intrinsic probe of CHF Target

Laser

Focusing Harmonic Reflected Laser

What magnitude do we expect?

I[Wcm-2] 1m 1022 Length 20 3.8 10-10
2

1.5 10-19

1nm
1 1

1022
1024 1026

20
20 2

3.8 10-7
0.002 0.02

1.5 10-13
1 10-6 1 10-4

X X

Intensity boost via CHF and synchronised short wavelength probe makes observation feasible (measurement limit of 2 to date ~ 10-6) How well polarised are the harmonics (the high power laser?)

Summary
Extreme Intensities beyond current limit
Coherent Harmonic Focusing Attosecond bunching

Ultrabright attosecond source Well suited to tests of QED Extreme X-ray physics

Ultrabright laser driven attosecond sources 2) Relativistic Flying Mirrors

Extreme Intensities Coherent Harmonic Focusing Attosecond Bunching Tests of QED using the Relativistically Oscillating Mirror

Relativistic Flying Mirror

Blowout condition: Reflectivity:

For =const expect upshift of r/ i=4 Coherent reflection: L< (ki z2)-1
2 z ;

NOTE: 4

2 z ~2

<<4

Bulanov S V et al PRL 2003; B. Qiao et al, NJP 2009

a0=60, n/nc=200, z~7;

max~100

Chirp produces broad spectrum

2~213

PIC confirms upshift + Reflectivity (B. Qiao et al.,NJP 2009)

A bright, monochromatic future?

Laser vg=c~vfoil => interaction time >> = (t) => Strong chirp in upshift

laser

Possible solution: secondary foil to reflect drive laser and transmit Relativistic Mirror
=const => monochromatic upshift

Towards bright coherent -rays

Wu+Meyer-ter-Vehn: 2nd foil enables z= max (arXiv:1003.1739) Ultrabright narrowband sources at 100s of keV are possible

SUMMARY.
ELI Beamlines facility is ideall placed to exploit emerging laser driven sources Radiation Pressure Ion sources Ultrashort bunches Compact accelarators to GeV/u level Science and Medical applications

Ultrafast probing

Relatvistic mirror sources Ultrabright attosecond sources Extreme X-ray Intensities possible (extreme source brightness with ELI) Towards zeptosecond regime Narrowband X-ray and Possibly -ray with Relativistic Flying Mirror

Light-Sail and Holeboring regime

Charge density

Holeboring Regime a~I/

Light Sail Regime a~I/

Holeboring acceleration takes place in thick target limit => more relaxed requirements

Acceleration depends on local intensity for sufficiently short pulses!

Acceleration Propagation phase

Ultra-short pulses (here 4 cycles) reduce energy requirements. Gaussian foci acceptable (reduced energy requirements) From Macchi et al. PRL 2005

Holeboring I/ scaling

Target: ~0.2

Dimensionless holeboring parameter:

Low density targets are desirable

0.4 0.35 0.3 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0

1020 1021 1022 1023 1024

70.8 kgm^(-3) 30 kgm^(-3) 1000 kgm^(-3)

Intensity (Wcm-2)

Liquid H2, 30 fs pulse

1021Wcm-2

61021Wcm-2

1022Wcm-2

61022Wcm-2

Liquid H2, 30 fs pulse. Spectral control possible by tailoring pulse shape/density profile: I/ =const.

Existing Hydrogen Jets are suitable for Holeboring

Holeboring acceleration.
Desirable features.
High efficiency Quasi-Monoenergetic distribution possible Little other radiation (gammas, fast electrons) Semi-infinite targets Gaussian foci (no 1D requirement)

Suitable for current high repetition rate technology

For I=6 1022 Wcm-2: E= 5J, 1m focus, 10fs => These are PFS parameters to a achieve 400 MeV/u

Challenges
Maintaining 1D nature during acceleration. High repetition, high power lasers to drive accelerator GeV accelerator simulation E=0.5- 2kJ, 30 fs 200 MeV: E~100J, 60 fs,

Summary - Protons
Laser accelerated protons (TNSA)
Excellent beam emittance Unique beam characteristics excellent short pulse ion source ps temporal resolution of electric field evolution But:Slow scaling to high beam energies, broad spectrum

RPA schemes
Highly desirable beam qualities with circular polarisation.
Low divergence High efficiency Quasi-Monoenergetic distribution Little other radiation (gammas, fast electrons)

Potentially ideal for medical applications. Excellent laser beam control is essential for light sail Relaxed operating conditions for holeboring regime

High repetition, high energy beams appear within reach.

Plasma Mirror - an ultra-fast optical switch

Plasma Mirror
A

A low reflectivity surface (i.e. a piece of glass with AR coating can operate as ~100fs rise time optical switch: - Illuminate with Imax> plasma formation threshold - prepulse sees Rcold<10-2 -main pulse sees Rplasma~60-80% - contrast enhancement: Rplasma/Rcold~ 100

Disadvantages: Energy loss, new PM required every shot. Advantage: Interaction with near-perfect plasmas surfaces is possible.

Experimental set-up

Detector Stack

Energy loss [KeV/m]

40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0

Proton energy [MeV]

Proton energy loss

5Mev 10Mev 15Mev

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 layer A layer B

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Detector depth [m]

RCF layer number

Layered detector stacks give 2D energy resolved beam images

Quasi-monoenergetic proton beams from RPA - first experimental demonstration

1 1013 8 1012

Protons/MeV/sr

6 1012 4 1012 2 1012

Astra Gemini results LIBRA consortium

0 4
7 10
13

12

16

20

Energy [MeV]

6 1013 5 1013

Protons/MeV/sr

4 1013 3 1013 2 1013 1 1013 0 -1 1013 0 5 10 15 20 25

Energy [MeV]

Beam quality - spectral

After phasespace rotator
E
E

1ps

100ps

200ps

Typical conventional accelerator @20MeV E/E=10-4 : E t~2keV*10ns=20 10-6 eV s

Laser accelerator: E t~10 MeV*1ps=10 10-6 eV s

Comparable to conventional accelerator

Circular polarisation - suppression of foil heating and expansion

Simulations by Sergey Rykovanov, MPQ (published

Copious hot electrons TNSA Gamma ray production

No hot electrons Suppressed TNSA (foil expansion) Fewer gamma rays

Attosecond pulse generation

a)
E Many cycle interaction

t b) E FT t c) I

f
Laser

e) I

d) FT I
t

f Reflected waveform contains attosecond bursts of harmonics every at every -spike

Few cycle interaction a) E

t
t b) E FT

c) I

e) I FT t

d) I

For a few cycle pulse the highest harmonics are only generate in one cycle -> isolated attosecond pulse

Attosecond pulses by spectral filtering

Removing optical harmonics + fundamental changes wave from from saw-tooth to individual as-pulses from (G. D. Tsakiris et al.,New J. Phys. 8, 19(2006)

Electric field does not oscillate for circular polarisation light pressure becomes quasi-static
1

0.8

Circular Linear

P~I/c~E2/c
|E|

0.6

0.4

0.2

0 -15

-10

-5

10

15

Time [fs]