Diffraction-limited performance and focusing of high harmonics from relativistic plasmas

Dromey, B. and Adams, D. and Horlein, R. and Nomura, Y. and Rykovanov, S.G. and Carroll, D.C. and Foster, P.S. and Kar, S. and Markey, K. and McKenna, P. and Neely, David and Geissler, M. and Tsakiris, G. D. and Zepf, M. (2009) Diffraction-limited performance and focusing of high harmonics from relativistic plasmas. Nature Physics, 5 (2). pp. 146-152. ISSN 1745-2473 (https://doi.org/10.1038/NPHYS1158)

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Abstract

When a pulse of light reflects from a mirror that is travelling close to the speed of light, Einstein's theory of relativity predicts that it will be up-shifted to a substantially higher frequency and compressed to a much shorter duration. This scenario is realized by the relativistically oscillating plasma surface generated by an ultraintense laser focused onto a solid target. Until now, it has been unclear whether the conditions necessary to exploit such phenomena can survive such an extreme interaction with increasing laser intensity. Here, we provide the first quantitative evidence to suggest that they can. We show that the occurrence of surface smoothing on the scale of the wavelength of the generated harmonics, and plasma denting of the irradiated surface, enables the production of high-quality X-ray beams focused down to the diffraction limit. These results improve the outlook for generating extreme X-ray fields, which could in principle extend to the Schwinger limit.

  • Item type:Article
    ID code:19268
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    February 2009
    Published
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Strathprints Administrator
    Date deposited:09 Jun 2010 15:55
    Last modified:08 Apr 2024 17:48
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/19268
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