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International audience; Investigating the potential benefits of the use of magnetic fields in inertial confinement fusion experiments has given rise to experimental platforms like the Magnetized Liner Inertial Fusion approach at the Z-machine (Sandia National Laboratories) or its laser-driven equivalent at OMEGA (Laboratory for Laser Energetics). Implementing these platforms at MegaJoule-scale laser facilities, such as the Laser MegaJoule (LMJ) or the National Ignition Facility (NIF), is crucial to reaching self-sustained nuclear fusion and enlarges the level of magnetization that can be achieved through a higher compression. In this paper, we present a complete design of an experimental platform for magnetized implosions using cylindrical targets at LMJ. A seed magnetic field is generated along the axis of the cylinder using laser-driven coil targets, minimizing debris and increasing diagnostic access compared with pulsed power field generators. We present a comprehensive simulation study of the initial B field generated with these coil targets, as well as two-dimensional extended magnetohydrodynamics simulations showing that a 5 T initial B field is compressed up to 25 kT during the implosion. Under these circumstances, the electrons become magnetized, which severely modifies the plasma conditions at stagnation. In particular, in the hot spot the electron temperature is increased (from 1 keV to 5 keV) while the density is reduced (from 40g/cm3 to 7g/cm3). We discuss how these changes can be diagnosed using x-ray imaging and spectroscopy, and particle diagnostics. We propose the simultaneous use of two dopants in the fuel (Ar and Kr) to act as spectroscopic tracers. We show that this introduces an effective spatial resolution in the plasma which permits an unambiguous observation of the B-field effects. Additionally, we present a plan for future experiments of this kind at LMJ.

We report on planar target experiments conducted on the OMEGA-EP laser facility performed in the context of the shock ignition (SI) approach to inertial confinement fusion. The experiment aimed at characterizing the propagation of strong shock in matter and the generation of hot electrons (HEs), with laser parameters relevant to SI (1-ns UV laser beams with I ∼1016 W/cm2). Time-resolved radiographs of the propagating shock front were performed in order to study the hydrodynamic evolution. The hot-electron source was characterized in terms of Maxwellian temperature, Th, and laser to hot-electron energy conversion efficiency η using data from different X-ray spectrometers. The post-processing of these data gives a range of the possible values for Th and η [i.e., T h [keV] a (20, 50) and η a (2%, 13%)]. These values are used as input in hydrodynamic simulations to reproduce the results obtained in radiographs, thus constraining the range for the HE measurements. According to this procedure, we found that the laser converts ∼10% ± 4% of energy into hot electrons with Th = 27 ± 8 keV. The paper shows how the coupling of different diagnostics and numerical tools is required to sufficiently constrain the problem, solving the large ambiguity coming from the post-processing of spectrometers data. The effect of the hot electrons on the shock dynamics is then discussed, showing an increase in the pressure around the shock front. The low temperature found in this experiment without pre-compression laser pulses could be advantageous for the SI scheme, but the high conversion efficiency may lead to an increase in the shell adiabat, with detrimental effects on the implosion.

International audience; It was proposed recently that laser-ion acceleration in gas jets may be significantly improved if each side of a gas jet target is tailored by an auxiliary nanosecond laser pulse [Marque `s et al., Phys. Plasmas 28, 023103 (2021)]. In the present study, the proton acceleration by electrostatic shock in these one-or two-side tailored plasmas is investigated using particle-in-cell simulations. It is demonstrated that the formation of a thin plasma layer with a steep density profile and a maximum density of the order of the critical density strongly improves the proton acceleration in the forward direction with a maximum ion energy of tens of MeV with mildly relativistic laser pulses. Proton acceleration up to tens of MeV is predicted using realistic plasma density profiles obtained from tailored gas jet targets compared to a few MeV reported in other publications.

In an experiment performed with a high-intensity and high-energy laser system, $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle production in proton-boron reaction by using a laser-driven proton beam was measured. $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles were observed from the front and also from the rear side, even after a 2-mm-thick boron target. The data obtained in this experiment have been analyzed using a sequence of numerical simulations. The simulations clarify the mechanisms of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle production and transport through the boron targets. $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-particle energies observed in the experiment and in the simulation reach 10--20 MeV through energy transfer from 20--30 MeV energy incident protons. Despite the lower cross sections for protons with energy above the sub-MeV resonances in the proton-boron reactions, ${10}^{8}$--${10}^{9}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\ensuremath{\alpha}$ particles per steradian have been detected.

We present preliminary results on generation of energetic α-particles driven by lasers. The experiment was performed at the Institute of Laser Engineering in Osaka using the short-pulse, high-intensity, high-energy, PW-class laser. The laser pulse was focused onto a thin plastic foil (pitcher) to generate a proton beam by the well-known TNSA mechanism which, in turn, was impinging onto a boron-nitride (BN) target (catcher) to generated alpha-particles as a result of proton-boron nuclear fusion events. Our results demonstrate generation of α-particles with energies in the range 8–10 MeV and with a flux around 5 × 10^9 sr^−1.

International audience; The high-energy petawatt PETAL laser system was commissioned at CEA’s Laser Mégajoule facility during the 2017–2018 period. This paper reports in detail on the first experimental results obtained at PETAL on energetic particle and photon generation from solid foil targets, with special emphasis on proton acceleration. Despite a moderately relativistic (

International audience; This work presents an innovative usage of the GEMpix detector for soft X-rays (SXR) measurements aimed to make an estimate of the electron temperature of a Laser Produced Plasma (LPP). The GEMpix is a proportional gas detector based on three Gas Electron Multipliers (GEMs) with a Front-End Electronics (FEE) based on four Timepix chips. This FEE provides the Time over Threshold (ToT) acquisition mode pixel by pixel and then a digital measure of the released charge in the gas mixture. In addition, the charge can be amplified through the GEM foils with 4 orders of magnitude spanning gain offering, in this way, a big dynamic range and adjustable sensitivity. Chip design provides a threshold for each channel. All the thresholds are set in order to cut electronic noise and detect X-rays. In this configuration, a cut on the low amplitude signals is set, but the gain has been tuned in order to observe the main signal due to the soft X-rays reaching the detector. This detector works in an energy range between 2 to 15 keV . It offers good imaging properties, high efficiency and absolute calibration. It offers a good immunity to Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP), as checked at VEGA-2 laser facility (hundreds of TW in about 30 fs). In these experiments, where the formation of warm dense matter produced by blast waves has been studied, a measure of the plasma temperature was required. This measurement was realized applying some filters on the active area of the detector, in correspondence of three chips. With this configuration a study of the GEMpix response due to the photons coming from the coronal plasma produced by the laser on the target has been done for each single shot. GEMpix revealed innovative and attractive features, compared to the state of the art where passive films or detectors based on indirect conversion are used, for SXR imaging and spectral analysis to infer the electron temperature.

PETAL is an additional PW beamline to the LMJ. The kJ shots in the amplifier section, the compressor alignment and the 1.15 PW @ 850 J operations are detailed. Damage issues encountered are also addressed.

Thanks to their high dynamic range and ability to withstand electromagnetic pulse, imaging plates (IPs) are commonly used as passive detectors in laser-plasma experiments. In the framework of the development of the diagnostics for the Petawatt Aquitaine Laser facility, we present an absolute calibration and spatial resolution study of five different available types of IP (namely, MS-SR-TR-MP-ND) performed by using laser-induced K-shell X-rays emitted by a solid silver target irradiated by the laser ECLIPSE at CEntre Lasers Intenses et Applications. In addition, IP sensitivity measurements were performed with a 160 kV X-ray generator at CEA DAM DIF, where the absolute response of IP SR and TR has been calibrated to X-rays in the energy range 8-75 keV with uncertainties of about 15%. Finally, the response functions have been modeled in Monte Carlo GEANT4 simulations in order to reproduce experimental data. Simulations enable extrapolation of the IP response functions to photon energies from 1 keV to 1 GeV, of interest, e.g., for laser-driven radiography. © 2016 AIP Publishing LLC.

The use of solid targets irradiated in a vacuum target chamber by focussed high energy, high power laser beams to study the properties of matter at high densities, pressures and temperatures are well known. An undesirable side effect of these interactions is the generation of plumes of solid, liquid and gaseous matter which move away from the target and coat or physically damage surfaces within the target chamber. The largest aperture surfaces in these chambers are usually the large, high specification optical components used to produce the extreme conditions being studied [e.g. large aperture off axis parabolas, aspheric lenses, X ray optics and planar debris shields]. In order to study these plumes and the effects that they produce a set of dedicated experiments were performed to evaluate target by product coating distributions and particle velocities by a combined diagnostic instrument that utilised metal witness plates, polymer witness plates, fibre velocimetry and low density foam particle catchers.

Quasi-static magnetic-fields up to $800\,$T are generated in the interaction of intense laser pulses ($500\,$J, $1\,$ns, $10^{17}\,$W/cm$^2$) with capacitor-coil targets of different materials. The reproducible magnetic-field peak and rise-time, consistent with the laser pulse duration, were accurately inferred from measurements with GHz-bandwidth inductor pickup coils (B-dot probes). Results from Faraday rotation of polarized optical laser light and deflectometry of energetic proton beams are consistent with the B-dot probe measurements at the early stages of the target charging, up to $t\approx 0.35\,$ns, and then are disturbed by radiation and plasma effects. The field has a dipole-like distribution over a characteristic volume of $1\,$mm$^3$, which is coherent with theoretical expectations. These results demonstrate a very efficient conversion of the laser energy into magnetic fields, thus establishing a robust laser-driven platform for reproducible, well characterized, generation of quasi-static magnetic fields at the kT-level, as well as for magnetization and accurate probing of high-energy-density samples driven by secondary powerful laser or particle beams., 16 pages, 7 figures

A model providing an accurate estimate of the charge accumulation on the surface of a metallic target irradiated by a high-intensity laser pulse of fs-ps duration is proposed. The model is confirmed by detailed comparisons with specially designed experiments. Such a model is useful for understanding the electromagnetic pulse emission and the quasistatic magnetic field generation in laser-plasma interaction experiments.

In this paper, we report on the quasi-isentropic compression of an iron sample using ramp shaped laser irradiation. This technique allows us to quasi-isentropically compress iron up to 700 GPa and 8500 K. To our knowledge, these data are the highest pressures reached on iron in off-Hugoniot conditions and the closest to the thermodynamic states thought to exist in Earth-like planetary cores. The experiment was performed on the Ligne d'Integration laser facility at CESTA, Bordeaux, France.

Fusion experiments involving a deuterium–tritium compound can be considered in the near future at CEA/DAM/Cesta using the laser integration line facility (LIL; prototype of the laser mega joule (LMJ), under construction). Nevertheless, non-contaminated materials are currently favoured in order to minimise exploitation constraints. Hence, as it presented low but significant levels of contamination (tritium and beryllium), the LIL target chamber was cleaned up before being installed. A comparison of selected decontamination methods has been made based on their ability to reach very low levels of contamination (i.e. the lowest contamination threshold in transportation regulations and beryllium public limit), their efficiency and compatibility with vacuum objectives. The process was thereby performed at CEA/DAM/Cesta in 2001, using an acid foam technique in a dedicated installation. Its implementation and effectiveness are further discussed in this paper.

In the framework of research on inertial fusion, experiments on a reduced-scale prototype of the future Laser MegaJoule (LMJ) are planned in the ‘Laser Integration Line’ at CEA/DAM/CESTA. By 2005, part of these experiments will involve Deuterium–Tritium targets in which fusion reaction will result in radiation—mainly in the form of neutron flux and photon radiation from activated materials—that constitute a source of radiological exposure at the workplace. At the conception stage, an evaluation of the radiological exposures of occupational workers was performed. Different options for reducing these exposures have been studied. Results show that by modifying the composition of the staff or delaying the interventions, a reduction of the individual doses to the most exposed categories of employees from 2 to 50% to a factor 4 can be achieved, without increasing the total collective dose which can be further reduced by 10–25%. This study is a good illustration of how the ALARA principle can be implemented at the conception stage of an installation. Due to the low individual and collective exposures, the different options to reduce doses are more closely associated with staff and planning re-organisations. These options are characterised by a rather low cost and limited constraints of implementation.

A multi-Petawatt high-energy laser PETAL coupled to the Ligne d’Int´ Laser (LIL) is under construction in the Aquitaine Region in France. This Petawatt laser will be dedicated to academic experiments in the fields of high energy density physics and ultra high intensity. Nd : glass laser chain coupled with the chirped pulse amplification (CPA technique allows delivery of high energy. Optical parametric CPA for pre-amplification and a new compression scheme will be implemented. PETAL is designed to deliver 3.6 kJ of energy in 500 fs on a target corresponding to 7.2 PW. The PETAL beam linked to the up to 60 kJ ns UV beams from the LIL will present new scientific research opportunities. (Some figures in this article are in colour only in the electronic version)

We use the LIL (Ligne d'Integration Laser ) facility to study the coalescence of two planar shocks in an indirectly-driven planar sample of polystyrene. This experiment represents the preliminary stage of the future shock-timing campaign for the Laser Megajoule (LMJ). The main objectives are to validate the experimental concept and to test the numerical simulations. We used a gold spherical hohlraum to convert into X-ray the 351 nm wavelength laser pulse and to initiate the two shocks in the sample. To access time resolved shock velocities and temperature, we used two rear-side diagnostics: a VISAR (Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflection) working at two different wavelengths and a streaked optical self-emission diagnostic. We observed the coalesced shock, in good agreement with the numerical simulations. We also observed a loss of signal during the first nanoseconds probably due to sample heating from the hohlraum X-ray flux.

Interaction of high-intensity laser pulses with solid targets results in generation of large quantities of energetic electrons that are the origin of various effects such as intense x-ray emission, ion acceleration, and so on. Some of these electrons are escaping the target, leaving behind a significant positive electric charge and creating a strong electromagnetic pulse long after the end of the laser pulse. We propose here a detailed model of the target electric polarization induced by a short and intense laser pulse and an escaping electron bunch. A specially designed experiment provides direct measurements of the target polarization and the discharge current in the function of the laser energy, pulse duration, and target size. Large-scale numerical simulations describe the energetic electron generation and their emission from the target. The model, experiment, and numerical simulations demonstrate that the hot-electron ejection may continue long after the laser pulse ends, enhancing significantly the polarization charge.

International audience; The study of iron under quasi-isentropic compression using high energy lasers, might allow to understand its thermodynamical properties, in particular its melting line in conditions of pressure and temperature relevant to Earth-like planetary cores (330e1500 GPa, 5000e8000 K). However, the iron alphaepsilon solidesolid phase transition at 13 GPa favors shock formation during the quasi-isentropic compression process which can depart from the appropriate thermodynamical path. Understanding this shock formation mechanism is a key issue for being able to reproduce Earth-like planetary core conditions in the laboratory by ramp compression. In this article, we will present recent results of direct laser-driven quasi-isentropic compression experiments on iron samples obtained on the LULI 2000 and LIL laser facilities

The laser Megajoule (LMJ) is a high energy laser facility (176 UV beam lines) designed for High Energy Density Physics. The end of the year 2014 was devoted to the progressive commissioning of the LMJ to achieve the first experimental campaign with 8 beams. This paper describes the alignment system developed in order to focus the laser beams and point the plasma diagnostics on the target. Alignment performances have been validated at very low power (1J front end shots) on an active target supporting a CCD sensor. Additional high power pointing shots have been performed to complete the characterization. We have demonstrated beam to target positioning accuracy < 52μm rms which is the LMJ requirement.

The paper describes the preparation of the short-pulse high-energy laser PETAL that will be coupled to the French megajoule laser (LMJ) of CEA. The LMJ/PETAL facility will be opened to academic access for the international research community. In parallel diagnostics are being developed within the PETAL project and many physical problems are being addressed ranging from the study of the problems of radiation generation and activation issues to the problem of generation of large amplitude electromagnetic pulses.

We describe laser-driven spall experiments on aluminum, tantalum, steel and gold targets. The free-surface velocity is measured by using a VISAR diagnostic and is compared with numerical simulations at early spallation stage based on the Johnson fracture model. For each material, we first launch one-dimensional simulations with different values of the model parameters and determine the ones which reproduce correctly the experimental data. Then we use two-dimensional simulations to take into account spatial inhomogeneity of the loading pressure over the laser spot. We show non planar ejected spalls which are in agreement with experimental results. We finally study the fragmentation of thin targets and show differences in material behavior for steel in comparison to gold, tantalum and aluminum.

International audience; We present the most powerful white light femtosecond Lidar experiment to date using a 30J-30TW laser. We also discuss the applicability of coherent control to femtosecond Lidar experiments, in order to identify bioagents in air.

Filamentation, which arises in the propagation of ultrashort laser pulses when the defocusing on the generated plasma dynamically balances the Kerr self-focusing, is now well described on both the laboratory scale (millijoules to tens of millijoules, meters to tens of meters) and the atmospheric scale (hundreds of millijoules, hundreds of meters to kilometers). The scalability of this propagation regime to higher energies and powers is not a priori assured, as high-order nonlinear effects may prevent long distance propagation leading, for instance, to full beam collapse. We thus investigated the atmospheric propagation of the 26 J, 32 TW laser pulses delivered by the Alise beamline, which exceed respectively by one and two orders of magnitude the characteristic power and energy of ultrashort pulses studied so far. We show that filamentation still occurs at these extreme levels. More than 400 filaments simultaneously generate a supercontinuum propagating up to the stratosphere, beyond 20 km. This constitutes the highest power "white-light laser" to date. We also discuss the results of another experiment realized with the Teramobile laser facility: we demonstrated optimal control on the propagation of ultrashort 5 TW laser pulses in air over distances up to 36 m in a closed-loop scheme. We optimized three spectral ranges within the white-light continuum, as well as the ionization efficiency. Optimization results in signal enhancements by typical factors of 2 and 1.4 for the target parameters. In the case of white-light continuum generation, the feedback-driven procedure leads to shorter pulses by reducing their chirp, while, as far as air ionization is concerned, the optimization consists in correcting the pulse from its defects and setting the filamentation onset near the detector.

Ultrahigh power laser pulses delivered by the Alise beamline (26J, 32TW pulses) have been sent vertically into the atmosphere. The highly nonlinear propagation of the beam in the air gives rise to more than 400 self-guided filaments. This extremely powerful bundle of laser filaments generates a supercontinuum propagating up to the stratosphere, beyond 20km. This constitutes the highest power “atmospheric white-light laser” to date.

Experimental investigation of stimulated Raman (SRS) and Brillouin (SBS) scattering have been obtained at the Ligne-d'Integration-Laser facility (LIL, CEA-Cesta, France). The parametric instabilities (LPI) are driven by firing four laser beamlets (one quad) into millimeter size, gas-filled hohlraum targets. A quad delivers energy on target of 15 kJ at 3ω in a 6-ns shaped laser pulse. The quad is focused by means of 3ω gratings and is optically smoothed with a kinoform phase plate and with smoothing by spectral dispersion-like 2 GHz and/or 14 GHz laser bandwidth. Open- and closed-geometry hohlraums have been used, all being filled with 1-atm, neo-pentane (C5H12) gas. For SRS and SBS studies, the light backscattered into the focusing optics is analyzed with spectral and time resolutions. Near-backscattered light at 3ω and transmitted light at 3ω are also monitored in the open geometry case. Depending on the target geometry (plasma length and hydrodynamic evolution of the plasma), it is shown that, at maximu...

The paper describes the preparation of the short-pulse high-energy laser PETawatt Aquitaine Laser (PETAL), which will be coupled to the Laser Megajoule (LMJ) laser of CEA. The LMJ/PETAL facility will be opened for the academic access of European researchers. In parallel, diagnostics are being developed within the PETAL + project and many physical problems are being addressed ranging from the study of the problems of radiation generation and activation issues to the problem of generation of large electromagnetic pulses.

The generation of neutron/gamma radiation, electromagnetic pulses (EMP), debris and shrapnel at mega-Joule class laser facilities (NIF and LMJ) impacts experiments conducted at these facilities. The complex 3D numerical codes used to assess these impacts range from an established code that required minor modifications (MCNP - calculates neutron and gamma radiation levels in complex geometries), through a code that required significant modifications to treat new phenomena (EMSolve - calculates EMP from electrons escaping from laser targets), to a new code, ALE-AMR, that is being developed through a joint collaboration between LLNL, CEA, and UC (UCSD, UCLA, and LBL) for debris and shrapnel modelling.

We present an overview of recent experiments fielded on the LIL facility. A key issue for mega-joule class laser facilities is shrapnel fragment generation. A specific collector was therefore developed to capture debris in aerogel and dedicated shots were done to quantitatively evaluate target fragmentation phenomena. The LIL panel of transmitted and backscattered light diagnostics is well suited for laser-plasma interaction (LPI) experiments. This include gas-filled hohlraum configurations relevant to Indirect Drive ignition targets in order to test the specific LMJ longitudinal SSD technique, as well as LPI experiments with foam targets for laser beam smoothing in underdense plasma in the context of Direct Drive. After Visar commissioning a campaign was dedicated to boron Equation of State (EOS).

A multi-Petawatt high-energy laser PETAL coupled to the Ligne d'Int?gration Laser (LIL) is under construction in the Aquitaine Region in France. This Petawatt laser will be dedicated to academic experiments in the fields of high energy density physics and ultra high intensity. Nd?:?glass laser chain coupled with the chirped pulse amplification (CPA technique allows delivery of high energy. Optical parametric CPA for pre-amplification and a new compression scheme will be implemented. PETAL is designed to deliver 3.6?kJ of energy in 500?fs on a target corresponding to 7.2?PW. The PETAL beam linked to the up to 60?kJ?ns UV beams from the LIL will present new scientific research opportunities.

The Ligne d'Integration Laser (LIL) facility has been designed as a prototype for the Laser MegaJoule (LMJ) which is a cornerstone of the French 'Simulation Program'. This laser has been intensively used to test and improve the LMJ components. In addition, a large panel of plasma diagnostics has been installed and is currently used to perform laser–plasma experiments. After a brief discussion about the LIL design, we present the last results in various plasma physics domains.

In this paper we describe the physical processes that lead to the generation of Giant Electro- Magnetic Pulses (GEMP) on powerful laser facilities. Our study is based on experimental mea- surements of both the charging of a solid target irradiated by an ultra-short, ultra-intense laser and the detection of the electromagnetic emission in the GHz domain. An unambiguous correlation between the neutralisation current in the target holder and the electromagnetic emission shows that the source of the GEMP is the remaining positive charge inside the target after the escape of fast electrons accelerated by the ultra-intense laser. A simple model for calculating this charge in the thick target case is presented. From this model and knowing the geometry of the target holder, it becomes possible to estimate the intensity and the dominant frequencies of the GEMP on any facility.

International audience; In the Shock Ignition scheme, the spike pulse intensity is well above the threshold of parametric instabilities, which produce a considerable amount of hot electrons that could be beneficial or detrimental to the ignition. To study their impact, an experiment has been carried out on the LMJ-PETAL facility with a goal to generate a strong shock inside a plastic layer under plasma conditions relevant to full-scale shock ignition targets. To evaluate the effect of hot electrons on the shock characteristics, laser temporal smoothing was either switched on or off, which in turns varies the quantity of hot electrons being generated. In this paper, we present preliminary results obtained during the experiment dedicated to the hot electron characterization. We present also calculations for the second part of the experiment, scheduled in 2020 and focused on the shock characterization.

By using numerical simulations and experimental campaigns on a small-scale laser facility, the concept of the focal spot imaging on harmonics of laser frequency is developed and implemented on the Laser MegaJoule (LMJ)/PETawatt Aquitaine Laser (PETAL) facility. The Two/Three ω Imaging System was activated and validated during the first 2017–2019 interaction campaigns of PETAL on the LMJ. It provides major information on focal spot characteristics on a target. Such an approach could be easily applied to any high-intensity facility in the relativistic intensity regime (>1018 W cm−2).