High Intensity Laser Plasma Interactions, Ultrafast X-ray sources and Advanced Ignition Laser Fusion Energy

高强度激光等离子体相互作用、超快 X 射线源和先进点火激光聚变能

• 批准号: RGPIN-2014-05736
• 负责人: Fedosejevs, Robert
• 金额: $ 5.1万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=650562
• 关键词: Intensity; Laser; Plasma; Interactions; Ultrafast

High intensity femtosecond laser pulses when focused to relativistic intensities (I > 1018 W/cm2 where the oscillatory velocity of free electrons in the focused laser radiation field approaches the speed of light) hold the promise of many exciting developments in the generation of advanced x-ray, particle and radioisotope sources. Two distinct approaches, thin foil targets and gas targets, for the generation of MeV energy electrons, protons and ions, are being pursued which in turn can be used for the generation of ultrashort bursts of x-rays and the generation of radioisotopes. All of these processes require an understanding of high intensity laser-plasma interactions in this strongly nonlinear regime. In addition, understanding and optimizing the generation mechanisms of these processes are important for the application to fast ignition laser fusion energy where the MeV energy electrons or protons can be used as an ignition spark to ignite the fusion reactions at the edge of a compressed fuel pellet, reducing the over laser energy requirements from multi-Megajoules to sub Megajoule for a potential laser fusion reactor. This could significantly reduce the cost and engineering development time for future laser fusion reactors. The present research proposal will continue ongoing research on the exploration of a number of areas of intermediate to high energy laser-plasma interaction physics including: 1) Wakefield acceleration of electrons up to GeV energies using 0.1 - 1 PW laser pulses, 2) keV x-ray betatron radiation generation from laser wakefield accelerated electrons and applications in femtosecond probing of plasmas, 3) development of femtosecond x-ray and gamma ray sources based on the use of undulators, high energy Bremssthralung from high-Z targets and inverse Compton scattering from MeV to GeV laser produced electron bunches, 4) MeV Proton generation from foil and gas targets and the production of radioisotopes for medical applications, 5) picosecond time resolved radiographic probing of plasma interaction using laser produced electron and proton jets, 6) Optimization of MeV electron and proton generation and transport studies for fast ignition applications and 7) Development of a new class of high efficiency laser driver systems based on diode pumped cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG and Yb:CaF2 ceramic crystals which could be the building block for future high efficiency and repetition rate fusion energy drivers. The wakefield generation of electrons will be optimized to producing mulit-GeV, quasi-monochromatic, low divergence electron bunches with applications in Betatron, synchrotron and Bremsstrahlung production of x-rays to gamma rays. This will put Canada on the forefront of high energy electron generation and acceleration using techniques which eventually could be used to scale TeV particle accelerators from tens of kilometers to hundreds of metres and potentially build small scale soft x-ray free electron lasers. The generation of multi-MeV protons and radioisotopes on demand could lead to compact proton cancer treatment sources and turnkey radioisotope supply systems located at major hospitals instead of at national accelerator or reactor facilities. The fast ignition technique and newer shock ignition technique together with the development of 20% efficiency ceramic based laser systems could be a critical technology for accelerating the development of fusion reactors on a 20 year time scale rather than the 40 year timescale of the past. Clean, universally available, environmentally safe, green-house-gas-free fusion energy is the ultimate solution for mankind's large scale energy needs in the future and we should be vigorously exploring all options to bring fusion energy on line as soon as possible.

高强度的飞秒激光脉冲将重点放在相对论强度（I> 1018 W/cm2）时，在集中的激光辐射场中，游离电子的振荡速度具有光的速度），这是光的速度），这是高级X-- X-- X--- X--- X--- X--- X--- X--- X--- X-----射线，粒子和放射性同位素源。正在追求两种不同的方法，即薄箔目标和气体目标，用于产生MEV能量电子，质子和离子，这又可以用于产生X射线的超短爆发和生成放射性同位素。 所有这些过程都需要了解这种强烈的非线性方案中的高强度激光 - 血浆相互作用。 此外，理解和优化这些过程的发电机制对于应用快速点火激光融合能的应用很重要，其中MEV能量电子或质子可以用作点火火花来点燃压缩燃料颗粒边缘的融合反应，从多型jouleles到亚巨型joule的过度激光能量需求减少了潜在的激光融合反应器。 这可以大大减少未来激光融合反应堆的成本和工程开发时间。 本研究建议将继续进行有关探索许多中间至高能量激光 - 血浆相互作用物理学领域的研究，包括：1）使用0.1-1 PW激光脉冲，2）KeV X keV X - 从激光韦克菲尔德（Wakefield MEV至GEV激光产生电子束，4）MEV质子从箔和气体目标产生MEV质子，并生产用于医疗应用的放射性病，5）Picsecond Time使用激光产生的电子和质子Jets的等离子体相互作用的放射线摄影探测，6）电子和质子的生成和运输研究，用于快速点火应用以及7）基于二极管泵送的低温冷却YB的新型高效激光驱动器系统：YAG和YB：CAF2陶瓷晶体，这可能是未来高效效率的基础和重复率融合能源驱动器。 韦克菲尔德的产生将优化，以生产Mulit-GEV，准单调的，低差异电子束，并在Betatron，Synchrotron和Bremsstrahlung生产X射线为Gamma Rays中进行了应用。 这将使加拿大使用技术最终可用于将TEV粒子加速器从数十公里到数百米扩展，并有可能构建小规模柔软的X射线自由电子激光器。 多MEV质子和放射性同位素的生成可能会导致位于主要医院的紧凑型质子癌处理源和Turnkey放射性同位素供应系统，而不是在国家加速器或反应堆设施上。 快速点火技术和较新的冲击点火技术以及基于20％的效率激光系统的开发可能是在20年时间范围内加速融合反应器的开发，而不是过去40年的时间表。 清洁，普遍可用，环境安全，无绿色的气体融合能量是人类将来的大规模能源需求的最终解决方案，我们应该大力探索所有选项，以尽快将融合能量带到线上。