Relativistic Electron Mirrors [electronic resource] : from High Intensity Laser–Nanofoil Interactions /
Kiefer, Daniel.author.
A dense sheet of electrons accelerated to close to the speed of light can act as a tuneable mirror that can generate bright bursts of laser-like radiation in the short wavelength range simply via the reflection of a counter-propagating laser pulse. This thesis investigates the generation of such a relativistic electron mirror structure in a series of experiments accompanied by computer simulations. It is shown that such relativistic mirror can indeed be created from the interaction of a high-intensity laser pulse with a nanometer-scale, ultrathin foil. The reported work gives a intriguing insight into the complex dynamics of high-intensity laser–nanofoil interactions and constitutes a major step towards the development of a relativistic mirror, which could potentially generate bright burst of X-rays on a micro-scale.
Description based upon print version of record.
Includes bibliographical references.
Theoretical Background -- Experimental Methods: Lasers, Targets and Detectors -- Electron Acceleration from Laser-Nanofoil Interactions -- Coherent Thomson Backscattering from Relativistic Electron Mirrors.
A dense sheet of electrons accelerated to close to the speed of light can act as a tuneable mirror that can generate bright bursts of laser-like radiation in the short wavelength range simply via the reflection of a counter-propagating laser pulse. This thesis investigates the generation of such a relativistic electron mirror structure in a series of experiments accompanied by computer simulations. It is shown that such relativistic mirror can indeed be created from the interaction of a high-intensity laser pulse with a nanometer-scale, ultrathin foil. The reported work gives a intriguing insight into the complex dynamics of high-intensity laser–nanofoil interactions and constitutes a major step towards the development of a relativistic mirror, which could potentially generate bright burst of X-rays on a micro-scale.
Plasma (Ionized gases).
Particle acceleration.
Lasers.
Photonics.
Nanoscale science.
Nanoscience.
Nanostructures.
Plasma Physics.
Particle Acceleration and Detection, Beam Physics.
Optics, Lasers, Photonics, Optical Devices.
Nanoscale Science and Technology.