scholarly journals Impact of Nonlinear Kerr Effect on the Focusing Performance of Optical Lens with High-Intensity Laser Incidence

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1945
Author(s):  
Bosong Yu ◽  
Zhili Lin ◽  
Xudong Chen ◽  
Weibin Qiu ◽  
Jixiong Pu

The rapid development of high-energy and high-power laser technology provides an important experimental means for the research of extreme physical state in the laboratory and for the design of large laser facilities for realizing inertial confinement fusion. However, when the incident laser field is very strong, the Kerr effect of materials affects the nominal performance of optical elements. In this work, the impact of Kerr effect on the focusing performance of an optical lens is studied by calculating and comparing the filed patterns of focal spots for three different incident laser beams together with three different levels of light intensities. The traditional transfer function of an optical lens is firstly modified according to the theory of nonlinear Kerr effect. We use the two-dimensional fast Fourier transform algorithm and angular spectrum algorithm to numerically calculate the field distributions of focal spots in the nominal focal plane of lens and its adjacent planes based on the Fresnel diffraction integral formula. The obtained results show that the Kerr effect affects the focusing characteristics of lens, especially for the incidence of high-order Gaussian beams, such as Hermite-Gaussian beams and Laguerre-Gaussian beams. At the same time, the focal length and refractive index of lens also change the field patterns of focal spots. The presented methodology is of great value in engineering applications where the practical problem with beam size up to 100 mm can be calculated using a common laptop computer. The work provides an efficient numerical technique for high-intensity incident laser beams focused by lens that takes Kerr effect into consideration, which has potential applications in high energy density physics and large laser facilities for inertial confinement fusion.

1993 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. 3328-3336 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. Keane ◽  
B. A. Hammel ◽  
D. R. Kania ◽  
J. D. Kilkenny ◽  
R. W. Lee ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 338-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Zhao ◽  
Z. Zhang ◽  
W. Gai ◽  
Y. Du ◽  
S. Cao ◽  
...  

AbstractWe present a scheme of electron beam radiography to dynamically diagnose the high energy density (HED) matter in three orthogonal directions simultaneously based on electron Linear Accelerator. The dynamic target information such as, its profile and density could be obtained through imaging the scattered electron beam passing through the target. Using an electron bunch train with flexible time structure, a very high temporal evolution could be achieved. In this proposed scheme, it is possible to obtain 1010 frames/second in one experimental event, and the temporal resolution can go up to 1 ps, spatial resolution to 1 µm. Successful demonstration of this concept will have a major impact for both future inertial confinement fusion science and HED physics research.


2006 ◽  
Vol 77 (10) ◽  
pp. 10E301 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Tommasini ◽  
Jeffrey A. Koch ◽  
Bruce Young ◽  
Ed Ng ◽  
Tom Phillips ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Gong ◽  
H. Habara ◽  
K. Sumioka ◽  
M. Yoshimoto ◽  
Y. Hayashi ◽  
...  

AbstractFast ignition (FI) is a promising approach for high-energy-gain inertial confinement fusion in the laboratory. To achieve ignition, the energy of a short-pulse laser is required to be delivered efficiently to the pre-compressed fuel core via a high-energy electron beam. Therefore, understanding the transport and energy deposition of this electron beam inside the pre-compressed core is the key for FI. Here we report on the direct observation of the electron beam transport and deposition in a compressed core through the stimulated Cu Kα emission in the super-penetration scheme. Simulations reproducing the experimental measurements indicate that, at the time of peak compression, about 1% of the short-pulse energy is coupled to a relatively low-density core with a radius of 70 μm. Analysis with the support of 2D particle-in-cell simulations uncovers the key factors improving this coupling efficiency. Our findings are of critical importance for optimizing FI experiments in a super-penetration scheme.


Author(s):  
Andrew Randewich ◽  
Rob Lock ◽  
Warren Garbett ◽  
Dominic Bethencourt-Smith

Almost 30 years since the last UK nuclear test, it remains necessary regularly to underwrite the safety and effectiveness of the National Nuclear Deterrent. To do so has been possible to date because of the development of continually improving science and engineering tools running on ever more powerful high-performance computing platforms, underpinned by cutting-edge experimental facilities. While some of these facilities, such as the Orion laser, are based in the UK, others are accessed by international collaboration. This is most notably with the USA via capabilities such as the National Ignition Facility, but also with France where a joint hydrodynamics facility is nearing completion following establishment of a Treaty in 2010. Despite the remarkable capability of the science and engineering tools, there is an increasing requirement for experiments as materials age and systems inevitably evolve further from what was specifically trialled at underground nuclear tests (UGTs). The data from UGTs will remain the best possible representation of the extreme conditions generated in a nuclear explosion, but it is essential to supplement these data by realizing new capabilities that will bring us closer to achieving laboratory simulations of these conditions. For high-energy-density physics, the most promising technique for generating temperatures and densities of interest is inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Continued research in ICF by the UK will support the certification of the deterrent for decades to come; hence the UK works closely with the international community to develop ICF science. UK Ministry of Defence © Crown Owned Copyright 2020/AWE. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Prospects for high gain inertial fusion energy (part 1)'.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document