Novel method for characterizing relativistic electron beams in a harsh laser-plasma environment

Calorimeter with Bayesian unfolding of spectra of high-flux broadband x rays

We report the development of a multipurpose differential x-ray calorimeter with a broad energy bandwidth. The absorber architecture is combined with a Bayesian unfolding algorithm to unfold high energy x-ray spectra generated in high-intensity laser-matter interactions. Particularly, we show how to extract absolute energy spectra and how our unfolding algorithm can reconstruct features not included in the initial guess. The performance of the calorimeter is evaluated via Monte Carlo generated data. The method accuracy to reconstruct electron temperatures from bremsstrahlung is shown to be 5% for electron temperatures from 1 to 50 MeV. We study bremsstrahlung generated in solid target interaction showing an electron temperature of 0.56 ± 0.04 MeV for a 700 μm Ti titanium target and 0.53 ± 0.03 MeV for a 50 μm target. We investigate bremsstrahlung from a target irradiated by laser-wakefield accelerated electrons showing an endpoint energy of 551 ± 5 MeV, inverse Compton generated x rays with a peak energy of 1.1 MeV, and calibrated radioactive sources. The total energy range covered by all these sources ranges from 10 keV to 551 MeV.

Compact spectroscopy of keV to MeV X-rays from a laser wakefield accelerator

We reconstruct spectra of secondary X-rays from a tunable 250–350 MeV laser wakefield electron accelerator from single-shot X-ray depth-energy measurements in a compact (7.5 × 7.5 × 15 cm), modular X-ray calorimeter made of alternating layers of absorbing materials and imaging plates. X-rays range from few-keV betatron to few-MeV inverse Compton to > 100 MeV bremsstrahlung emission, and are characterized both individually and in mixtures. Geant4 simulations of energy deposition of single-energy X-rays in the stack generate an energy-vs-depth response matrix for a given stack configuration. An iterative reconstruction algorithm based on analytic models of betatron, inverse Compton and bremsstrahlung photon energy distributions then unfolds X-ray spectra, typically within a minute. We discuss uncertainties, limitations and extensions of both measurement and reconstruction methods.

Absolute response of a Fuji BAS-TR imaging plate to low-energy protons (<0.2 MeV) and carbon ions (<1 MeV)

This paper reports on the absolute response of a Fuji BAS-TR image plate to relatively low-energy protons (<0.2 MeV) and carbon ions (<1 MeV) accelerated by a 10-TW-class compact high-intensity laser system. A Thomson parabola spectrometer was used to discriminate between different ion species while dispersing the ions according to their kinetic energy. Ion parabolic traces were recorded using an image plate detector overlaid with a slotted CR-39 solid-state detector. The obtained response function for the protons was reasonably extrapolated from previously reported higher-ion-energy response functions. Conversely, the obtained response function for carbon ions was one order of magnitude higher than the value extrapolated from previously reported higher-ion-energy response functions. In a previous study, it was determined that if the stopping range of carbon ions is comparable to or smaller than the grain size of the phosphor, then some ions will provide all their energy to the binder resin rather than the phosphor. As a result, it is believed that the imaging plate response will be reduced. Our results show good agreement with the empirical formula of Lelasseux et al., which does not consider photo-stimulated luminescence (PSL) reduction due to the urethane resin. It was shown that the PSL reduction due to the deactivation of the urethane resin is smaller than that previously predicted.

Monte Carlo Study of Imaging Plate Response to Laser-Driven Aluminum Ion Beams

We measured the response of BAS-TR imaging plate (IP) to energetic aluminum ions up to 222 MeV, and compared it with predictions from a Monte Carlo simulation code using two different IP response models. Energetic aluminum ions were produced with an intense laser pulse, and the response was evaluated from cross-calibration between CR-39 track detector and IP energy spectrometer. For the first time, we obtained the response function of the BAS-TR IP for aluminum ions with a kinetic energy as high as 222 MeV. On close examination of the two IP response models, we confirm that the exponential model fits our experimental data better. Moreover, we find that the IP sensitivity in the exponential model is nearly constant in this energy range, suggesting that the response function can be determined even with little experimental data.

Bremsstrahlung cannon design for shock ignition relevant regime

We report on the optimization of a BremsStrahlung Cannon (BSC) design for the investigation of laser-driven fast electron populations in a shock ignition relevant experimental campaign at the Laser Megajoule-PETawatt Aquitaine Laser facility. In this regime with laser intensities of 10¹⁵ W/cm²-10¹⁶ W/cm², fast electrons with energies ≤100 keV are expected to be generated through Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) and Two Plasmon Decay (TPD) instabilities. The main purpose of the BSC in our experiment is to identify the contribution to x-ray emission from bremsstrahlung of fast electrons originating from SRS and TPD, with expected temperatures of 40 keV and 95 keV, respectively. Data analysis and reconstruction of the distributions of x-ray photons incident on the BSC are described.

The response function of Fujifilm BAS-TR imaging plates to laser-accelerated titanium ions

Calibrated diagnostics for energetic particle detection allow for the systematic study of charged particle sources. The Fujifilm BAS-TR imaging plate (IP) is a reusable phosphorescent detector for radiation applications such as x-ray and particle beam detection. The BAS-TR IP has been absolutely calibrated to many low-Z (low proton number) ions, and extending these calibrations to the mid-Z regime is beneficial for the study of laser-driven ion sources. The Texas Petawatt Laser was used to generate energetic ions from a 100 nm titanium foil, and charge states Ti¹⁰⁺ through Ti¹²⁺, ranging from 6 to 27 MeV, were analyzed for calibration. A plastic detector of CR-39 with evenly placed slots was mounted in front of the IP to count the number of ions that correspond with the IP levels of photo-stimulated luminescence (PSL). A response curve was fitted to the data, yielding a model of the PSL signal vs ion energy. Comparisons to other published response curves are also presented, illustrating the trend of PSL/nucleon decreasing with increasing ion mass.

Calibration and cross-laboratory implementation of scintillating screens for electron bunch charge determination

We revise the calibration of scintillating screens commonly used to detect relativistic electron beams with low average current, e.g., from laser-plasma accelerators, based on new and expanded measurements that include higher charge density and different types of screens than previous work [Buck et al., Rev. Sci. Instrum. 81, 033301 (2010)]. Electron peak charge densities up to 10 nC/mm² were provided by focused picosecond-long electron beams delivered by the Electron Linac for beams with high Brilliance and low Emittance (ELBE) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf. At low charge densities, a linear scintillation response was found, followed by the onset of saturation in the range of nC/mm². The absolute calibration factor (photons/sr/pC) in this linear regime was measured to be almost a factor of 2 lower than that reported by Buck et al. retrospectively implying a higher charge in the charge measurements performed with the former calibration. A good agreement was found with the results provided by Glinec et al. [Rev. Sci. Instrum. 77, 103301 (2006)]. Furthermore long-term irradiation tests with an integrated dose of approximately 50 nC/mm² indicate a significant decrease of the scintillation efficiency over time. Finally, in order to enable the transfer of the absolute calibration between laboratories, a new constant reference light source has been developed.

Readout models for BaFBr0.85I0.15:Eu image plates

The linearity of the photostimulated luminescence process makes repeated image-plate scanning a viable technique to extract a more dynamic range. In order to obtain a response estimate, two semi-empirical models for the readout fading of an image plate are introduced; they relate the depth distribution of activated photostimulated luminescence centers within an image plate to the recorded signal. Model parameters are estimated from image-plate scan series with BAS-MS image plates and the Typhoon FLA 7000 scanner for the hard x-ray image-plate diagnostic over a collection of experiments providing x-ray energy spectra whose approximate shape is a double exponential.

Fast electrons generated by quasistatic electric fields of a fs-laser-pulse-induced plasma

We present a new acceleration mechanism for electrons taking place during the interaction of an ultrashort, nonrelativistic laser pulse with a plasma generated at the surface of a solid density target. In our experiments, the plasma is created by a laser pulse with femtosecond duration and an energy of about 1 mJ focused to intensities of above 10^{17}W/cm^{2}. We observe that the electron energies acquired by this mechanism exceed the ponderomotive potential of the laser by an order of magnitude. This result was reproduced and quantitatively confirmed by particle-in-cell simulations, which further revealed that the observed electron acceleration is based on quasistatic electric fields caused by the space charges of ponderomotively preaccelerated electrons. This acceleration process is examined in more detail by a simplified numerical model, which allows a qualitative explanation of the final electron energies.

Escaping Electrons from Intense Laser-Solid Interactions as a Function of Laser Spot Size

The interaction of a high-intensity laser with a solid target produces an energetic distribution of electrons that pass into the target. These electrons reach the rear surface of the target creating strong electric potentials that act to restrict the further escape of additional electrons. The measurement of the angle, flux and spectra of the electrons that do escape gives insights to the initial interaction. Here, the escaping electrons have been measured using a differentially filtered image plate stack, from interactions with intensities from mid 1020-1017 W/cm2, where the intensity has been reduced by defocussing to increase the size of the focal spot. An increase in electron flux is initially observed as the intensity is reduced from 4x1020 to 6x1018 W/cm2. The temperature of the electron distribution is also measured and found to be relatively constant. 2D particle-in-cell modelling is used to demonstrate the importance of pre-plasma conditions in understanding these observations.

Calibration of imaging plate detectors to mono-energetic protons in the range 1-200 MeV

Responses of Fuji Imaging Plates (IPs) to proton have been measured in the range 1-200 MeV. Mono-energetic protons were produced with the 15 MV ALTO-Tandem accelerator of the Institute of Nuclear Physics (Orsay, France) and, at higher energies, with the 200-MeV isochronous cyclotron of the Institut Curie-Centre de Protonthérapie d'Orsay (Orsay, France). The experimental setups are described and the measured photo-stimulated luminescence responses for MS, SR, and TR IPs are presented and compared to existing data. For the interpretation of the results, a sensitivity model based on the Monte Carlo GEANT4 code has been developed. It enables the calculation of the response functions in a large energy range, from 0.1 to 200 MeV. Finally, we show that our model reproduces accurately the response of more complex detectors, i.e., stack of high-Z filters and IPs, which could be of great interest for diagnostics of Petawatt laser accelerated particles.

Laser-plasma-based Space Radiation Reproduction in the Laboratory

Space radiation is a great danger to electronics and astronauts onboard space vessels. The spectral flux of space electrons, protons and ions for example in the radiation belts is inherently broadband, but this is a feature hard to mimic with conventional radiation sources. Using laser-plasma-accelerators, we reproduced relativistic, broadband radiation belt flux in the laboratory, and used this man-made space radiation to test the radiation hardness of space electronics. Such close mimicking of space radiation in the lab builds on the inherent ability of laser-plasma-accelerators to directly produce broadband Maxwellian-type particle flux, akin to conditions in space. In combination with the established sources, utilisation of the growing number of ever more potent laser-plasma-accelerator facilities worldwide as complementary space radiation sources can help alleviate the shortage of available beamtime and may allow for development of advanced test procedures, paving the way towards higher reliability of space missions.

Calibration of imaging plates to electrons between 40 and 180 MeV

This paper presents the response calibration of Imaging Plates (IPs) for electrons in the 40-180 MeV range using laser-accelerated electrons at Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée (LOA), Palaiseau, France. In the calibration process, the energy spectrum and charge of electron beams are measured by an independent system composed of a magnetic spectrometer and a Lanex scintillator screen used as a calibrated reference detector. It is possible to insert IPs of different types or stacks of IPs in this spectrometer in order to detect dispersed electrons simultaneously. The response values are inferred from the signal on the IPs, due to an appropriate charge calibration of the reference detector. The effect of thin layers of tungsten in front and/or behind IPs is studied in detail. GEANT4 simulations are used in order to analyze our measurements.

Validation of modelled imaging plates sensitivity to 1-100 keV x-rays and spatial resolution characterisation for diagnostics for the "PETawatt Aquitaine Laser"

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.

Study of imaging plate detector sensitivity to 5-18 MeV electrons

Imaging plates (IPs) are commonly used as passive detectors in laser-plasma experiments. We calibrated at the ELSA electron beam facility (CEA DIF) the five different available types of IPs (namely, MS-SR-TR-MP-ND) to electrons from 5 to 18 MeV. In the context of diagnostic development for the PETawatt Aquitaine Laser (PETAL), we investigated the use of stacks of IP in order to increase the detection efficiency and get detection response independent from the neighboring materials such as X-ray shielding and detector supports. We also measured fading functions in the time range from a few minutes up to a few days. Finally, our results are systematically compared to GEANT4 simulations in order to provide a complete study of the IP response to electrons over the energy range relevant for PETAL experiments.

Response functions of imaging plates to photons, electrons and 4He particles

Imaging plates from Fuji (BAS-SR, MS, and TR types) are phosphor films routinely used in ultra high intensity laser experiments. However, few data are available on the absolute IP response functions to ionizing particles. We have previously measured and modeled the IP response functions to protons. We focus here on the determination of the responses to photons, electrons, and (4)He particles. The response functions are obtained on an energy range going from a few tens of keV to a few tens of MeV and are compared to available data. The IP sensitivities to the different ionizing particles demonstrate a quenching effect depending on the particle stopping power.

Response functions of Fuji imaging plates to monoenergetic protons in the energy range 0.6-3.2 MeV

We have measured the responses of Fuji MS, SR, and TR imaging plates (IPs) to protons with energies ranging from 0.6 to 3.2 MeV. Monoenergetic protons were produced with the 3.5 MV AIFIRA (Applications Interdisciplinaires de Faisceaux d'Ions en Région Aquitaine) accelerator at the Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires de Bordeaux Gradignan (CENBG). The IPs were irradiated with protons backscattered off a tantalum target. We present the photo-stimulated luminescence response of the IPs together with the fading measurements for these IPs. A method is applied to allow correction of fading effects for variable proton irradiation duration. Using the IP fading corrections, a model of the IP response function to protons was developed. The model enables extrapolation of the IP response to protons up to proton energies of 10 MeV. Our work is finally compared to previous works conducted on Fuji TR IP response to protons.

A scintillator-based online detector for the angularly resolved measurement of laser-accelerated proton spectra

In recent years, a new generation of high repetition rate (~10 Hz), high power (~100 TW) laser systems has stimulated intense research on laser-driven sources for fast protons. Considering experimental instrumentation, this development requires online diagnostics for protons to be added to the established offline detection tools such as solid state track detectors or radiochromic films. In this article, we present the design and characterization of a scintillator-based online detector that gives access to the angularly resolved proton distribution along one spatial dimension and resolves 10 different proton energy ranges. Conceived as an online detector for key parameters in laser-proton acceleration, such as the maximum proton energy and the angular distribution, the detector features a spatial resolution of ~1.3 mm and a spectral resolution better than 1.5 MeV for a maximum proton energy above 12 MeV in the current design. Regarding its areas of application, we consider the detector a useful complement to radiochromic films and Thomson parabola spectrometers, capable to give immediate feedback on the experimental performance. The detector was characterized at an electrostatic Van de Graaff tandetron accelerator and tested in a laser-proton acceleration experiment, proving its suitability as a diagnostic device for laser-accelerated protons.

A high resolution, broad energy acceptance spectrometer for laser wakefield acceleration experiments

Laser wakefield experiments present a unique challenge in measuring the resulting electron energy properties due to the large energy range of interest, typically several 100 MeV, and the large electron beam divergence and pointing jitter >1 mrad. In many experiments the energy resolution and accuracy are limited by the convolved transverse spot size and pointing jitter of the beam. In this paper we present an electron energy spectrometer consisting of two magnets designed specifically for laser wakefield experiments. In the primary magnet the field is produced by permanent magnets. A second optional electromagnet can be used to obtain better resolution for electron energies above 75 MeV. The spectrometer has an acceptance of 2.5-400 MeV (E(max)/E(min)>100) with a resolution of better than 1% rms for electron energies above 25 MeV. This high resolution is achieved by refocusing electrons in the energy plane and without any postprocessing image deconvolution. Finally, the spectrometer employs two complimentary detection mechanisms: (1) absolutely calibrated scintillation screens imaged by cameras outside the vacuum chamber and (2) an array of scintillating fibers coupled to a low-noise charge-coupled device.

Absolute charge calibration of scintillating screens for relativistic electron detection

We report on new charge calibrations and linearity tests with high-dynamic range for eight different scintillating screens typically used for the detection of relativistic electrons from laser-plasma based acceleration schemes. The absolute charge calibration was done with picosecond electron bunches at the ELBE linear accelerator in Dresden. The lower detection limit in our setup for the most sensitive scintillating screen (KODAK Biomax MS) was 10 fC/mm(2). The screens showed a linear photon-to-charge dependency over several orders of magnitude. An onset of saturation effects starting around 10-100 pC/mm(2) was found for some of the screens. Additionally, a constant light source was employed as a luminosity reference to simplify the transfer of a one-time absolute calibration to different experimental setups.

Temperature and Kalpha-yield radial distributions in laser-produced solid-density plasmas imaged with ultrahigh-resolution x-ray spectroscopy

We study warm dense matter formed by subpicosecond laser irradiation at several 10(19) W/cm(2) of thin Ti foils using x-ray spectroscopy with high spectral (E/DeltaE approximately 15,000) and one-dimensional spatial (Deltax=13.5 microm) resolutions. Ti Kalpha doublets modeled by line-shape calculations are compared with Abel-inverted single-pulse experimental spectra and provide radial distributions of the bulk-electron temperature and the absolute-photon number Kalpha yield in the target interiors. A core with approximately 40 eV extends homogeneously up to ten times the laser-focus size. The spatial distributions of the bulk-electron temperature and Kalpha yield are strongly correlated.

Absolute response of Fuji imaging plate detectors to picosecond-electron bunches

The characterization of the absolute number of electrons generated by laser wakefield acceleration often relies on absolutely calibrated FUJI imaging plates (IP), although their validity in the regime of extreme peak currents is untested. Here, we present an extensive study on the dependence of the sensitivity of BAS-SR and BAS-MS IP to picosecond electron bunches of varying charge of up to 60 pC, performed at the electron accelerator ELBE, making use of about three orders of magnitude of higher peak intensity than in prior studies. We demonstrate that the response of the IPs shows no saturation effect and that the BAS-SR IP sensitivity of 0.0081 photostimulated luminescence per electron number confirms surprisingly well data from previous works. However, the use of the identical readout system and handling procedures turned out to be crucial and, if unnoticed, may be an important error source.

Ion spectrometer composed of time-of-flight and Thomson parabola spectrometers for simultaneous characterization of laser-driven ions

An ion spectrometer, composed of a time-of-flight spectrometer (TOFS) and a Thomson parabola spectrometer (TPS), has been developed to measure energy spectra and to analyze species of laser-driven ions. Two spectrometers can be operated simultaneously, thereby facilitate to compare the independently measured data and to combine advantages of each spectrometer. Real-time and shot-to-shot characterizations have been possible with the TOFS, and species of ions can be analyzed with the TPS. The two spectrometers show very good agreement of maximum proton energy even for a single laser shot. The composite ion spectrometer can provide two complementary spectra measured by TOFS with a large solid angle and TPS with a small one for the same ion source, which are useful to estimate precise total ion number and to investigate fine structure of energy spectrum at high energy depending on the detection position and solid angle. Advantage and comparison to other online measurement system, such as the TPS equipped with microchannel plate, are discussed in terms of overlay of ion species, high-repetition rate operation, detection solid angle, and detector characteristics of imaging plate.

Few-cycle laser-driven electron acceleration

We report on an electron accelerator based on few-cycle (8 fs full width at half maximum) laser pulses, with only 40 mJ energy per pulse, which constitutes a previously unexplored parameter range in laser-driven electron acceleration. The produced electron spectra are monoenergetic in the tens-of-MeV range and virtually free of low-energy electrons with thermal spectrum. The electron beam has a typical divergence of 5-10 mrad. The accelerator is routinely operated at 10 Hz and constitutes a promising source for several applications. Scalability of the few-cycle driver in repetition rate and energy implies that the present work also represents a step towards user friendly laser-based accelerators.

Absolute calibration of an electron spectrometer using high energy electrons produced by the laser-plasma interaction

An in situ observation system has been developed to observe the absolute electron energy spectra of electron beams generated by laser-plasma interaction. A phosphor screen (DRZ) coupled with a charge coupled device camera is used to detect the electrons. A new method is proposed to calibrate the absolute sensitivity of the detection system for a wide energy range with a single shot by using an electron beam generated by laser-plasma interaction. The sensitivity of the system is found to be high, which is comparable to that of an imaging plate.