Single shot, temporally and spatially resolved measurements of fast electron dynamics using a chirped optical probe

Green, J. and Murphy, C.D. and Booth, Nicola and Dance, Rachel and Gray, Ross and MacLellan, David and McKenna, Paul and Rusby, Dean and Wilson, Lucy (2014) Single shot, temporally and spatially resolved measurements of fast electron dynamics using a chirped optical probe. Journal of Instrumentation, 9 (March). P03003. ISSN 1748-0221 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-0221/9/03/P03003)

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Abstract

A new approach to rear surface optical probing is presented that permits multiple, time-resolved 2D measurements to be made during a single, ultra-intense ( > 1018 W cm−2) laser-plasma interaction. The diagnostic is capable of resolving rapid changes in target reflectivity which can be used to infer valuable information on fast electron transport and plasma formation at the target rear surface. Initial results from the Astra-Gemini laser are presented, with rapid radial sheath expansion together with detailed filamentary features being observed to evolve during single shots.