Guiding of Optical Laser Pulses in Fast Capillary Discharge Plasma Columns

B. M. Luther; Y. Wang; M. C. Marconi; M. Berrill; D. Alessi; J. L.A. Chilla; J. J. Rocca

doi:10.1117/12.507661

Guiding of Optical Laser Pulses in Fast Capillary Discharge Plasma Columns

B. M. Luther, Y. Wang, M. C. Marconi, M. Berrill, D. Alessi, J. L.A. Chilla, J. J. Rocca

Research output: Contribution to journal › Conference article › peer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report the generation and characterization of plasma waveguides in a highly ionized Ar plasma created by a fast capillary discharge. Their results are of interest for the efficient longitudinal laser excitation of collisional soft x-ray lasers. A discharge-driven hydrodynamic compression guides progressively lower order modes through a plasma with increasing density and degree of ionization. The mode structure and guiding properties were investigated using near and far field imaging, and transmission measurements. The lowest order mode (FWHM diameter ∼ 50 um) is guided with an energy transmission of ∼ 75% over a 5.5 cm long plasma a fraction of a ns before the discharge plasma column reaches the conditions for lasing in Ne-like Ar. The rapid expansion of the highly ionized plasma column after the pinch forms a significantly more leaky and absorbent waveguide.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	136-142
Number of pages	7
Journal	Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume	5197
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.507661
State	Published - 2003
Externally published	Yes
Event	Soft X-Ray Lasers and Applications V - San Diego, CA, United States Duration: Aug 6 2003 → Aug 7 2003

Keywords

Capillary discharge
Plasma waveguide
Soft x-ray laser

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10.1117/12.507661

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title = "Guiding of Optical Laser Pulses in Fast Capillary Discharge Plasma Columns",

abstract = "We report the generation and characterization of plasma waveguides in a highly ionized Ar plasma created by a fast capillary discharge. Their results are of interest for the efficient longitudinal laser excitation of collisional soft x-ray lasers. A discharge-driven hydrodynamic compression guides progressively lower order modes through a plasma with increasing density and degree of ionization. The mode structure and guiding properties were investigated using near and far field imaging, and transmission measurements. The lowest order mode (FWHM diameter ∼ 50 um) is guided with an energy transmission of ∼ 75% over a 5.5 cm long plasma a fraction of a ns before the discharge plasma column reaches the conditions for lasing in Ne-like Ar. The rapid expansion of the highly ionized plasma column after the pinch forms a significantly more leaky and absorbent waveguide.",

keywords = "Capillary discharge, Plasma waveguide, Soft x-ray laser",

author = "Luther, {B. M.} and Y. Wang and Marconi, {M. C.} and M. Berrill and D. Alessi and Chilla, {J. L.A.} and Rocca, {J. J.}",

year = "2003",

doi = "10.1117/12.507661",

language = "English",

volume = "5197",

pages = "136--142",

journal = "Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering",

issn = "0277-786X",

publisher = "Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers",

note = "Soft X-Ray Lasers and Applications V ; Conference date: 06-08-2003 Through 07-08-2003",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Guiding of Optical Laser Pulses in Fast Capillary Discharge Plasma Columns

AU - Luther, B. M.

AU - Wang, Y.

AU - Marconi, M. C.

AU - Berrill, M.

AU - Alessi, D.

AU - Chilla, J. L.A.

AU - Rocca, J. J.

PY - 2003

Y1 - 2003

N2 - We report the generation and characterization of plasma waveguides in a highly ionized Ar plasma created by a fast capillary discharge. Their results are of interest for the efficient longitudinal laser excitation of collisional soft x-ray lasers. A discharge-driven hydrodynamic compression guides progressively lower order modes through a plasma with increasing density and degree of ionization. The mode structure and guiding properties were investigated using near and far field imaging, and transmission measurements. The lowest order mode (FWHM diameter ∼ 50 um) is guided with an energy transmission of ∼ 75% over a 5.5 cm long plasma a fraction of a ns before the discharge plasma column reaches the conditions for lasing in Ne-like Ar. The rapid expansion of the highly ionized plasma column after the pinch forms a significantly more leaky and absorbent waveguide.

AB - We report the generation and characterization of plasma waveguides in a highly ionized Ar plasma created by a fast capillary discharge. Their results are of interest for the efficient longitudinal laser excitation of collisional soft x-ray lasers. A discharge-driven hydrodynamic compression guides progressively lower order modes through a plasma with increasing density and degree of ionization. The mode structure and guiding properties were investigated using near and far field imaging, and transmission measurements. The lowest order mode (FWHM diameter ∼ 50 um) is guided with an energy transmission of ∼ 75% over a 5.5 cm long plasma a fraction of a ns before the discharge plasma column reaches the conditions for lasing in Ne-like Ar. The rapid expansion of the highly ionized plasma column after the pinch forms a significantly more leaky and absorbent waveguide.

KW - Capillary discharge

KW - Plasma waveguide

KW - Soft x-ray laser

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U2 - 10.1117/12.507661

DO - 10.1117/12.507661

M3 - Conference article

AN - SCOPUS:1842479018

SN - 0277-786X

VL - 5197

SP - 136

EP - 142

JO - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

JF - Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering

T2 - Soft X-Ray Lasers and Applications V

Y2 - 6 August 2003 through 7 August 2003

ER -

Guiding of Optical Laser Pulses in Fast Capillary Discharge Plasma Columns

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Keywords

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