The effects of shape and thickness of a tin surface layer and of the energy of a 170 ps neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser pulse on the conversion efficiency (CE) into extreme ultraviolet emission in the 13.5 nm region is investigated. Whereas a CE of up to 1.16% into the 2% reflection band of multilayer Mo/Si optics was measured for a bulk Sn target at a laser energy of 25 mJ, significant CE enhancement up to 1.49% is demonstrated for a 200-nm-thick Sn layer on a microstructured porous alumina substrate.

A study of ASP 30 steel surface modification with high intensity Ti:sapphire laser, operating at 804 nm wavelength and pulse duration of 60 fs, in vacuum ambient, is presented. ASP 30 steel surface variations were studied at laser intensities of 1014 and 1013 W/cm2. The steel target specific surface changes and phenomena observed are: (i) Creation of craters at 1014 W/cm2 intensity; (ii) formation of periodic surface structures only at the reduced intensity of 1013 W/cm2; (iii) chemical surface changes registered only at higher laser intensity, and (iv) occurrence of plasma in front of the surface, including its emission in X-ray region. It can be concluded from this study that the reported laser intensities can effectively be applied for ASP 30 steel surface modification. Careful choosing of laser intensity and pulse count can lead to precise superficial material removal, for example laser intensity ~1013 W/cm2 and low pulse count can lead to ultra-precise surface processing. Generally, femtosecond laser surface modification of ASP 30 steel is non-contact and very rapid compared with traditional modification methods.

A double layer a-CN/TiAlN coating deposited on ASP30 steel substrate was irradiated by femtosecond laser and surface modification effects were observed. Moderate laser intensities used were in the range of 1014–1013 W/cm2, while the total thickness of double layer coating was 4.8 µm (a-CN = 0.6 and TiAlN = 4.2 µm). Laser-induced changes of the surface showed dependence on laser intensity and number of accumulated pulses. Irradiations at the highest intensity resulted in preservation of one or both layers up to 10 pulses, while at lower intensity (1013 W/cm2) a-CN layer is removed after several pulses and TiAlN is preserved up to 50 pulses. Evaluated damage threshold of the target was 0.49 J/cm2. Lower laser intensity irradiation produced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) over the entire irradiated spot with periodicity of ~700 nm, almost in agreement with the laser wavelength used. Irradiations carried out at the highest laser intensity (1014 W/cm2) and laser pulse count of ≥50 resulted in the creation of crater like damages with depth up to 20 µm. Craters were conically shaped, implying intensive processes which took place at the surface. Generation of LIPSS as well as craters can be of great interest for contemporary technologies.

Laser interactions with spray targets (clouds of submicron droplets) are studied here via numerical simulations using two-dimensional particle-in-cell codes. Our simulations demonstrate an efficient absorption of laser pulse energy inside the spray. The energy absorption efficiency depends on the inter-droplet distance, size of the cloud of droplets, and laser pulse intensity, as well as on the pre-evaporation of droplets due to laser pulse pedestal. We investigate in detail proton acceleration from the spray. Energy spectra of protons in various acceleration directions vary significantly depending on the density profile of the plasma created from the droplets and on laser intensity. The spray target can be alternative of foil targets for high intensity high repetition ultrahigh contrast femtosecond lasers. However, at intensities >1021 W/cm2, the efficiency of laser absorption and ion acceleration from the droplets drops significantly in contrast to foils.

Surface periodic structures are generated upon irradiation of a silicon carbide (SiC) thin film by the plasma produced by 40 fs pulses from a Ti:Sapphire laser focused onto a thick low density polyethylene (LDPE) foil facing the SiC film. Independently of the number of laser pulses applied, these structures, with average regular periodicity of 710 nm, are evident throughout all irradiated areas. We attribute their formation to the efficient coupling of the unfocused femtosecond laser pulse with the incoherent extreme ultraviolet component of the laser-generated LDPE plasma.

The response of titanium surface irradiated with high intensity (1013 – 1015 W/cm2) Ti:sapphire laser was studied in vacuum. Most of the reported investigations were conducted with nano- to femtosecond lasers in gas atmospheres while the studies of titanium surface interacting with femtosecond laser in vacuum are scarce. The laser employed in our experiment was operating at 800 nm wavelength and pulse duration of 60 fs in single pulse regime. The observed surface changes and phenomena are (1) creation of craters, (2) formation of periodic surface structures at the reduced intensity, and (3) occurrence of plasma in front the target. Since microstructuring of titanium is very interesting in many areas (industry, medicine), it can be concluded from this study that the reported laser intensities can effectively be applied for micromachining of the titanium surface (increasing the roughness, formation of parallel periodic surface structures etc.).

Production of sharply collimated high velocity outflows – plasma jets from massive planar targets by a single laser beam at PALS facility is clarified via numerical simulations. Since only a few experimental data on the intensity distribution in the interaction beam near the focus are available for the PALS facility, the laser beam profile was calculated by a numerical model of the laser system and the interaction optics. The obtained intensity profiles are used as the input for plasma dynamic simulations by our cylindrical two-dimensional fluid code PALE. Jet formation due to laser intensity profile with a minimum on the axis is demonstrated. The outflow collimation improves significantly for heavier elements, even when radiative cooling is omitted. Using an optimized interaction beam profile, a homogeneous jet with a length exceeding its diameter by several times may be reliably generated for applications in laboratory astrophysics and impact ignition studies.

Laser interactions with mass-limited targets are studied here via numerical simulations using our relativistic electromagnetic two-dimensional particle-in cell code including all three-velocity components. Analytical estimates are derived to clarify the simulation results. Mass-limited targets preclude the undesirable spread of the absorbed laser energy out of the interaction zone. Mass-limited targets, such as droplets, are shown here to enhance the achievable fast ion energy significantly due to an increase in the hot electron concentration. For given target dimensions, the existence is demonstrated for an optimum laser beam diameter when ion acceleration is efficient and geometrical energy losses are still acceptable. Ion energy also depends on the target geometrical form and rounded targets are found to enhance the energy of accelerated ions. The acceleration process is accompanied by generation of the dipole radiation in addition to the ordinary scattering of the electromagnetic wave.

We present a series of experimental results, and their interpretation, connected to various aspects of the hydrodynamics of laser produced plasmas. Experiments were performed using the Prague PALS iodine laser working at 0.44 μm wavelength and irradiances up to a few 1014 W/cm2. By adopting large focal spots and smoothed laser beams, the lateral energy transport and lateral expansion have been avoided. Therefore we could reach a quasi one-dimensional regime for which experimental results can be more easily and properly compared to available analytical models.

The experience of target fabrication with low-density and cluster heterogeneity is presented. Cluster plasma research is strongly dependent on target fabrication development and target structure characterization. Ten more target parameters should be measured for experiment interpreting in case of micro-heterogeneous plasma. Foam and foil targets, high-Z doped also, are produced and irradiated on the existing laser facilities. The density of 4.5 mg/cc cellulose triacetate in the form of regular three-dimensional polymer networks are achieved which is as low as plasma critical density for the third harmonic of iodine laser light. The possibilities of varying important target parameters, methods of their monitoring are discussed. Experiments with underdense foam targets with or without clusters irradiated on Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS) laser facility are analyzed preliminary for target optimization. Under-critical foams of varying structure (closed-cell foam or three-dimensional networks) and densities are reported for plasma experiments. Thermal and radiation transport in such targets are considered.

Acceleration of quasineutral plasma blocks by ponderomotive force induced by normally incident short laser pulse is studied here via 1D3V Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations. Very high current densities 109–1011 Acm−2 of accelerated ions are observed for maximum laser intensities in the range 1016–1018 Wcm−2 on solid hydrogen target. Ion acceleration process is traced here via evolution of ion density and of ion velocity distribution. Basic parameters of the accelerated plasma blocks are determined from temporally integrated ion distributions. Our results provide more detailed information than the previous analytical estimates (Hora, 2003) and the two-fluid 1D hydrodynamic simulations (Glowacz et al., 2004).

Interactions of sub-nanosecond pulses of kJ-class iodine laser “PALS” with low-density foams and acceleration of Al foils by the pressure of the heated foam matter are investigated here, both experimentally and theoretically. X-ray streak camera is used for evaluation of the speed of energy transfer through the porous foam material. The shock-wave arrival on the rear side of the target is monitored by optical streak camera. Accelerated foil velocities, measured by three-frame optical interferometers, and shadowgraphs, reach up to 107 cm/s. The accelerated foil shape is smooth without any signature of small-scale structures present in the incident laser beam. Conversion efficiencies as high as 14% of the laser energy into the kinetic energy of Al foil are derived. Experimental results compare well with our two-dimensional hydrodynamics simulations and with an approximate analytical model.

Hot electrons may significantly influence interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with solids. Accurate consideration of resonant absorption of laser energy and hot electron generation at a critical surface was achieved through the developed physical and mathematical models. A two-dimensional (2D) ray-tracing algorithm has been developed to simulate laser beam refraction and Bremsstrahlung absorption with allowance for nonlinear influence of a strong electromagnetic field. Hot electron transport was considered as a straight-line flow weakening by a friction force calculated in the approximation of the average state of ionization. Developed models were coupled with the 2D Lagrangian gas dynamic code “ATLANT” that takes into account nonlinear heat transport. The developed program has been applied to simulate irradiation of Al foils by picosecond laser double pulses. Hot electron transport and heating resulted in thin foil explosions. The transition from the exploding foil regime to the ablative one with foil thickening has been simulated and analyzed at various values of laser light intensity. In second series of calculations we have modeled the interaction of a nanosecond iodine laser with a two-layered target.

K-α emission is an intense short-pulse line source well suited for X-ray diagnostic techniques with subpicosecond and micrometer resolution. Numerical simulations are performed here in a search for laser–target interaction regimes where both high efficiency of laser energy transformation to X-ray emission and ultrashort X-ray pulses are achieved. We use the one-dimensional PIC code for the description of the laser interaction with the plasma layer at the target surface. Fast electron transport into the target is treated by our newly developed Monte Carlo code with temporal resolution that is described here in detail. Our simulations reveal extremely short ∼200 fs FWHM bright K-α X-ray pulses emitted from targets heated by 120-fs pulses of a table-top laser. Laser energy conversion efficiency to K-α line emission as high as 6 × 10−5 is noticed. Integration of the emitted energy over the focal spot is carried out to improve the simulation accord with published experimental data. Negligible impact of self-induced electric fields on K-α emission is found for conducting target materials at moderate laser intensities [lsim ]1017 W/cm2.

The absolutely calibrated K-shell spectra emitted from short-living aluminum plasmas at laser intensities of 5 × 1015–4 × 1018 W/cm2 are reported. The experiments performed with the constant energy, variable-length laser pulses (1.5 ps–1 ns) are modeled by the one-dimensional (1D) hydrodynamics code, including nonlinear resonance absorption of the laser radiation, fast electron acceleration, and energy transfer into the target. The characteristic features of the measured and the postprocessed spectra are outlined. The spatial and temporal profiles of the emitted spectra are presented; the scaling rules for the conversion efficiency of the laser radiation into the line X-ray emission are discussed.

Formation of transverse inhomogeneities in the corona of a solid target irradiated by an inhomogeneous main laser pulse and a uniform background pulse was observed experimentally via side-on shadowgraphy. The experimental results were successfully interpreted using a two-dimensional hydrodynamics code. Our simulations identified the onset of sharp contact boundaries between plasma streams of different expansion velocities. The formation and the decay of the contact boundaries is investigated in detail. When the background pulse is used as a laser prepulse, a layer of coronal plasma is formed that enhances main pulse collisional absorption in underdense plasma and creates conditions for an efficient thermal smoothing of the transverse inhomogeneities.

Laser prepulse effect on thermal smoothing of non-uniformities of target illumination is studied by means of 2D Lagrangian hydrodynamics simulation, based on parameters of real experiment. A substantial smoothing effect is demonstrated in case of an optimum delay between the prepulse and main heating laser pulse. The cause of enhancement of thermal smoothing effect by laser prepulse is the formation of long hot layer between the region of laser absorption and ablation surface. Comparison with experimental results is presented.

Emission of energetic ions from solid targets irradiated by intense ultrashort laser pulses is studied in the framework of a one-dimensional self-consistent hydrodynamical model. The computed ion spectra reproduce well the basic parameters of published experimental results. Optimum conditions are found for the generation of MeV ions by picosecond laser pulses.

The interaction of femtosecond laser pulses with solid-state density plasmas in regime of normal skin effect is investigated by means of numerical simulation. For short-wavelength lasers and laser pulses with length ≲ 120 fs full width at half maximum, the regime of normal skin effect is shown to hold for peak intensities up to 1017 W/cm2. The basic characteristics of the interaction are revealed and certain departures from simplistic models in electron distribution function, in plasma dielectric constant, and in laser absorption are pointed out. Comparison with the published experimental results is made.

The interaction of ultrashort laser pulses with a fully ionized plasma is investigated in the plane geometry by means of numerical simulation. The impact of the space oscillations in the amplitude of the laser electric field on the shape of the electron distribution function, on laser beam absorption, and on electron heat transport is demonstrated. Oscillations in the absorption rate of laser radiation with the minima coincident to the maxima of the laser electric field lead to a further decrease in the absorption of laser radiation. Heat flux in the direction of increasing temperature in the underdense region is caused by the modification of the electron distribution function and by the density gradient. A limitation of heat flux to the overdense plasma isobserved with the flux limiter in range 0.03–0.08, growing moderately with the intensity 1014–1016 W/cm2 of the incident 1.2-ps laser pulse.