A New Cutting-Edge Liquid Target for High-Intensity Laser Systems
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Date
2015-03-25
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Abstract
One of the most exciting aspects of high-intensity short-pulse lasers is their ability to produce beams of energetic protons and neutrons. These intense laser-produced beams may have direct applications in proton cancer therapy and neutron radiography, which conventionally rely on large and expensive particle accelerators or reactors as their particle source. Laser based particle beams are produced by irradiating an ultra-thin film with an incredibly intense and brief pulse of laser light. The only problem with utilizing this mechanism as a source of secondary radiation is that targets cannot be placed in front of the laser fast enough to match the particle flux of traditional sources. My research is part of a DARPA funded project to develop a target that will increase the repetition rate of high-intensity laser systems. In order to do this, vacuum-compatible liquid films were implemented in place of traditional metal foil targets. These liquid targets have the ability to reform themselves inside the target chamber, eliminating the need for replacement and realignment between every shot. The thickness of these free-standing films can also be tuned from 10nm – 10µm using techniques developed over the past year. The ability to change thickness allows this target to be optimized for use on a variety of different laser systems. A prototype target apparatus has been built which can form liquid targets at 0.33Hz with a position repeatability of 2µm RMS from optimal laser focus. This new target is poised to increase the firing rate of OSU’s SCARLET laser system from once an hour, to once every minute. An additional target prototype is currently in the early stages of development which will increase the firing rate to several times per second.
Description
Mathematical and Physical Sciences: 3rd Place (The Ohio State University Denman Undergraduate Research Forum)
Keywords
Laser, Liquid Crystals, Neutrons, Protons, Engineering, Physics