Development of high repetition rate intense laser driver and laser driven particle sources
File(s)
Author(s)
Xu, Nuo
Type
Thesis
Abstract
This thesis covers a novel experiment in high repetition rate ion acceleration with high intensity solid state lasers. In particular, it discusses the design and realisation of previously unexplored energy level from a high repetition rate laser. It also discuss high repetition rate capable solid target delivery systems. These laser driven accelerator operating conditions are of interest to many novel applications that are detailed in this thesis. The thesis discusses results of a stable 100Hz 20TW high repetition rate femtosecond laser, which can be adapted to laser driven particle acceleration for application in specific fields such as imaging, radioisotope generation, and proton therapy. A remarkably stable (better than 1% energy jitter) laser system was designed and developed. The laser was ran without supervision for over 1 million full energy shots. Key to the performance was the implementation of cryogenic laser amplifier stages featuring completely passive UHV pumping system which is thus vibration free. These different feature of the high repetition rate laser will be analysed and discussed, and modelled.
The thesis also includes the results from recent experiments studying the interaction of an intense 0.8 μm laser with a solid target at high repetition rate, generating energetic particles. The thesis will include analysis of the plasma at high repetition rate, and discussion of the plasma diagnostic systems involved to achieve such through-put, including the potential for future work on rapid data sampling and image processing with FPGAs.
The thesis also includes the results from recent experiments studying the interaction of an intense 0.8 μm laser with a solid target at high repetition rate, generating energetic particles. The thesis will include analysis of the plasma at high repetition rate, and discussion of the plasma diagnostic systems involved to achieve such through-put, including the potential for future work on rapid data sampling and image processing with FPGAs.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2023-10-05
Date Awarded
01/12/2023
Advisor
Najmudin, Zulfikar
Publisher Department
Physics
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)