Relativistic Electron Beam Transport and Characteristics in Solid Density Plasmas

Book excerpt: The transport of intense relativistic beams in solid density plasma presently is actively being studied in laser laboratories around the world. The correct understanding of the transport enables further application of fast laser driven electrons to a host of interesting uses. Advanced x-ray sources, proton and ion beam generation and plasma heating in fast ignitor fusion all are owed their eventual utility to this transport. We report on measurements of relativistic transport over the whole of the transport region, via analysis of x-ray emission. Our experiments cover laser powers from Terawatt to Petawatt. Advances in transverse imaging of fluorescent k-alpha x-rays generated along the electron beam path are used to diagnose the electron emission. Additionally the spatial pattern of Bremsstrahlung x-rays provides clues into the physics of electron transport in above Alfven current limit beams. Issues regarding the electron distribution function will be discussed in light of possible electron transport anomalies. The initial experiments performed on the Nova Petawatt Laser System were those associated with determining the nature of the electrons and x-rays in this relativistic regime especially those useful for advanced radiography sources suitable for diagnostic use in dense high-Z dynamic processes or as the driver of a relativistic electron source in the Fast-Ignitor Inertial Confinement fusion concept. The development of very large arrays of thermoluminescent detectors is detailed along with their response. The characteristic pattern of x-rays and their intensity is found from detailed analysis of the TLD detector array data. Peak intensities as high as 2 Rads at 1 meter were measured with these shielded TLD arrays. An average energy yield of x-rays of 11 Joules indicates a very large fraction of 45-55% of the laser energy is absorbed into relativistic electrons. The pattern of x-ray distribution lends insight to the initial relativistic electron distribution function and subsequent transport inside solid density material. A theoretical-computational model (MPK) combining laser focal spot data with ponderomotive kinematics with Monte Carlo collisional transport is developed here, and is presented which associates the laser interaction to the observed x-ray data. There is good agreement between the MPK model and data exhibiting ponderomotive like x-rays is found. Additional agreement is had in comparison to recent electron transport experiment utilizing Cu fluorescence to map the electron flow.