OSU/UCSD/GA OSU/UCSD/GA Experimental ProgramExperimental Program

J. PasleyJ. Pasley, E. Shipton, T. Ma, B. Bucher, S. Chen, F. Beg , E. Shipton, T. Ma, B. Bucher, S. Chen, F. Beg University of California at San DiegoUniversity of California at San Diego

E. Chowdhury, L. Van Woerkom, R. FreemanE. Chowdhury, L. Van Woerkom, R. FreemanOhio State UniversityOhio State University

R. StephensR. StephensGeneral AtomicsGeneral Atomics

A. Edens, J. Schwarz, P. Rambo, M. Geissel, M. Ramsey, I. Smith, J. Porter A. Edens, J. Schwarz, P. Rambo, M. Geissel, M. Ramsey, I. Smith, J. Porter Sandia National LaboratorySandia National Laboratory

University of California, San DiegoCenter for Energy Research

OverviewOverview

• We have commenced an experimental program We have commenced an experimental program at Sandia National Laboratory using the new Z-at Sandia National Laboratory using the new Z-PetaWatt upgrade laserPetaWatt upgrade laser

• This laser is in the process of being This laser is in the process of being commissioned, with our experiments on-going commissioned, with our experiments on-going throughout the commissioning processthroughout the commissioning process

• I will show how our experimental program is I will show how our experimental program is developing hand-in-hand with the facilities at developing hand-in-hand with the facilities at SandiaSandia

HIGH ENERGIESHIGH ENERGIES

10 – 20 J (Jan ’06) 10 – 20 J (Jan ’06) 80J in 400fs (Summer ’06)80J in 400fs (Summer ’06)

• Production of bench marking data for relativistic electron modeling Production of bench marking data for relativistic electron modeling codes such as LSP and Osiriscodes such as LSP and Osiris

Low-mass wire experiments to investigate electron transport Low-mass wire experiments to investigate electron transport in simple ‘1-D’ geometryin simple ‘1-D’ geometry Flat foil LPI experiments to investigate electron response in Flat foil LPI experiments to investigate electron response in laser spotlaser spot

TWO BEAMTWO BEAM

(Summer/ Fall ’06)(Summer/ Fall ’06)

• Proton deflectometry to facilitate magnetic field measurementProton deflectometry to facilitate magnetic field measurement

Planned experiments rely on a Planned experiments rely on a continued escalation of continued escalation of

capabilitiescapabilities

Experimental time-lineExperimental time-lineExperimentExperiment PhysicsPhysicsFacilityFacility

Ap

ril ’05 May ’05 Ju

ne ’05 Ju

ly ’05 Au

gu

st ‘05

Installation of target chamber vacuum system

Front end optimization

Installation and preliminary alignment of final (large ф )optics

Beam path enclosure completed

5J

ExperimentExperiment PhysicsPhysicsFacilityFacility

Sep

temb

er ’05 Octo

ber ’05 N

ovem

ber ’05

Set-up for ion time of flight diagnostic

Commissioning activities for sub-5J energy shots

Focal spot optimization

Set-up of gas lines for gas puff experiments

Installation of movable shield wall

Target alignment system / cameras installed

3 x 4 μm

4.5 x 9μm

ExperimentExperiment PhysicsPhysicsFacilityFacility

Decem

ber ’05 Jan

uary ’06

Focal spot intensity from direct measurement

(~5.6 x 1016W/cm2)

Pulses in the 1-5J range available into gas puffs

Commissioning activities associated with bringing up disk amplifiers

Work on vacuum system to reduce noise level

Improved measure of focused intensity

Commissioning activities associated with bringing up disk amplifiers

First shots into gas puffs

Now

20JExperimentExperiment PhysicsPhysicsFacilityFacility

Feb

ruary ’06 M

arch ‘06

Commissioning activities ramping up available energy to 80J

-Disk presents us with a relatively large target (laser has limited pointing accuracy)

-Targets are still very low mass, so electrons forced to go down wire

-Will study effects of modifying wire/vacuum interface on energy loss

- Essentially a 1D configuration – so relatively simple to analyze : Bench marking

80J

ExperimentExperiment PhysicsPhysicsFacilityFacility

Ap

ril ’06 May ’06 Ju

ne ’06 Ju

ly ‘06

Commissioning activities ramping up available energy to 80J

Installation of two-beam set-up

More energy allows for brighter sources, and higher resolution

We are investigating approaches to micron resolution imaging that would enable filamentary structures to be resolvedNovel HEDP experiments – bright backlighters / ‘fill tube’ implosions

Reflectivity probe setup

ExperimentExperiment PhysicsPhysicsFacilityFacility

Au

gu

st ’06 Sep

temb

er ’06 Octo

ber ’06 N

ovem

ber

‘06

Two-beam set-up becomes available

Novel pump – probe and proton imaging experiments are facilitated

Able to ‘look’ directly at magnetic field in over-dense plasma inaccessible to optical probing diagnostics

ConclusionsConclusions

• We commenced taking data at the Z-We commenced taking data at the Z-PetaWatt facility in DecemberPetaWatt facility in December

• As the laser is commissioned, and we As the laser is commissioned, and we increase our diagnostic portfolio, increase our diagnostic portfolio, more sophisticated experiments will more sophisticated experiments will be facilitatedbe facilitated