arXiv subjects

E. Lefebvre

Publications and source records attributed to E. Lefebvre.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

A hollow-core fiber based stand-alone multimodal (2-photon, 3-photon, SHG, THG) nonlinear flexible imaging endoscope

Multimodal nonlinear endoscopes have been a topic of intense research over the past two decades, enabling sub-cellular and label-free imaging in areas not reachable with table-top microscopes. They are sophisticated systems that can be implemented on an optical table in a lab environment, but they cannot be easily moved within or out of the lab. We present here a multimodal and flexible nonlinear endoscope system able to perform two photon excited fluorescence and second harmonic generation imaging with a stand-alone and moveable kart integrating a compact ultrashort laser source. In addition, the system can perform three photon excited fluorescence and third harmonic generation thanks to a delivery optical fiber used to deliver ultrashort pulses from massive and not movable laser systems into the stand-alone kart. The endoscopic fiber probes and delivery optical fibers are based on functionalized negative curvature hollow core fibers. The endoscope distal head has a diameter <2.2mm and can perform nonlinear imaging at max 10 frames/s over a field of view up to 600 $\mu$m with a ~1 $\mu$m spatial resolution.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2013

Femtosecond x rays from laser-plasma accelerators

Relativistic interaction of short-pulse lasers with underdense plasmas has recently led to the emergence of a novel generation of femtosecond x-ray sources. Based on radiation from electrons accelerated in plasma, these sources have the common properties to be compact and to deliver collimated, incoherent and femtosecond radiation. In this article we review, within a unified formalism, the betatron radiation of trapped and accelerated electrons in the so-called bubble regime, the synchrotron radiation of laser-accelerated electrons in usual meter-scale undulators, the nonlinear Thomson scattering from relativistic electrons oscillating in an intense laser field, and the Thomson backscattered radiation of a laser beam by laser-accelerated electrons. The underlying physics is presented using ideal models, the relevant parameters are defined, and analytical expressions providing the features of the sources are given. Numerical simulations and a summary of recent experimental results on the different mechanisms are also presented. Each section ends with the foreseen development of each scheme. Finally, one of the most promising applications of laser-plasma accelerators is discussed: the realization of a compact free-electron laser in the x-ray range of the spectrum. In the conclusion, the relevant parameters characterizing each sources are summarized. Considering typical laser-plasma interaction parameters obtained with currently available lasers, examples of the source features are given. The sources are then compared to each other in order to define their field of applications.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2012

Computationally efficient methods for modelling laser wakefield acceleration in the blowout regime

Electron self-injection and acceleration until dephasing in the blowout regime is studied for a set of initial conditions typical of recent experiments with 100 terawatt-class lasers. Two different approaches to computationally efficient, fully explicit, three-dimensional particle-in-cell modelling are examined. First, the Cartesian code VORPAL using a perfect-dispersion electromagnetic solver precisely describes the laser pulse and bubble dynamics, taking advantage of coarser resolution in the propagation direction, with a proportionally larger time step. Using third-order splines for macroparticles helps suppress the sampling noise while keeping the usage of computational resources modest. The second way to reduce the simulation load is using reduced-geometry codes. In our case, the quasi-cylindrical code CALDER-CIRC uses decomposition of fields and currents into a set of poloidal modes, while the macroparticles move in the Cartesian 3D space. Cylindrical symmetry of the interaction allows using just two modes, reducing the computational load to roughly that of a planar Cartesian simulation while preserving the 3D nature of the interaction. This significant economy of resources allows using fine resolution in the direction of propagation and a small time step, making numerical dispersion vanishingly small, together with a large number of particles per cell, enabling good particle statistics. Quantitative agreement of the two simulations indicates that they are free of numerical artefacts. Both approaches thus retrieve physically correct evolution of the plasma bubble, recovering the intrinsic connection of electron self-injection to the nonlinear optical evolution of the driver.

physics.acc-ph↗

arXiv2011

Nonlinear kinetic modeling of stimulated Raman scattering in a multidimensional geometry

In this paper, we derive coupled envelope equations modeling the growth of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in a multi-dimensional geometry, and accounting for nonlinear kinetic effects. In particular, our envelope equations allow for the nonlinear reduction of the Landau damping rate, whose decrease with the plasma wave amplitude depends on the rate of side-loss. Account is also made of the variations in the extent of the plasma wave packet entailed by the collisionless dissipation due to trapping. The dephasing between the electron plasma wave (EPW) and the laser drive, as well as the self-focussing of the plasma wave, both induced by the EPW nonlinear frequency shift, are also included in our envelope equations. These equations are solved in a multi-dimensional geometry using our code dubbed BRAMA, whose predictions regarding the evolution of Raman reflectivity as a function of the laser intensity are compared against previously published PIC results, thus illustrating the ability of BRAMA simulations to provide the correct laser threshold intensity for SRS, as well as the right order of magnitude of Raman reflectivity above threshold.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2011

Anticorrelation between Ion Acceleration and Nonlinear Coherent Structures from Laser-Underdense Plasma Interaction

In laser-plasma experiments, we observed that ion acceleration from the Coulomb explosion of the plasma channel bored by the laser, is prevented when multiple plasma instabilities such as filamentation and hosing, and nonlinear coherent structures (vortices/post-solitons) appear in the wake of an ultrashort laser pulse. The tailoring of the longitudinal plasma density ramp allows us to control the onset of these insabilities. We deduced that the laser pulse is depleted into these structures in our conditions, when a plasma at about 10% of the critical density exhibits a gradient on the order of 250 μm (gaussian fit), thus hindering the acceleration. A promising experimental setup with a long pulse is demonstrated enabling the excitation of an isolated coherent structure for polarimetric measurements and, in further perspectives, parametric studies of ion plasma acceleration efficiency.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2011

Coulomb explosion of uniformly charged spheroids

A simple, semi-analytical model is proposed for non-relativistic Coulomb explosion of a uniformly charged spheroid. This model allows us to derive the time-dependent particle energy distributions. Simple expressions are also given for the characteristic explosion time and maximum particle energies in the limits of extreme prolate and oblate spheroids as well as for the sphere. Results of particle simulations are found to be in remarkably good agreement with the model.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2011

Relativistic solitary waves modulating long laser pulses in plasmas

This article discusses the existence of solitary electromagnetic waves trapped in a self-generated Langmuir wave and embedded in an infinitely long circularly polarized electromagnetic wave propagating through a plasma. From the mathematical point of view they are exact solutions of the 1-dimensional relativistic cold fluid plasma model with nonvanishing boundary conditions. Under the assumption of traveling wave solutions with velocity $V$ and vector potential frequency $ω$, the fluid model is reduced to a Hamiltonian system. The solitary waves are homoclinic (grey solitons) or heteroclinic (dark solitons) orbits to fixed points. By using a dynamical systems description of the Hamiltonian system and a spectral method, we identify a great variety of solitary waves, including asymmetric ones, discuss their disappearance for certain parameter values, and classify them according to: (i) grey or dark character, (ii) the number of humps of the vector potential envelope and (iii) their symmetries. The solutions come in continuous families in the parametric $V-ω$ plane and extend up to velocities that approach the speed of light. The stability of certain types of grey solitary waves is investigated with the aid of particle-in-cell simulations that demonstrate their propagation for a few tens of the inverse of the plasma frequency.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

High-quality ion beams from a nanometric double-layer target and their application to hadron-therapy

The production of ion beams from the interaction of a circularly polarized laser pulse with a nanometric double-layer target is discussed in the regime where all electrons are expelled from the target by laser radiation pressure. Quasi-monochromatic, well-collimated ion beams are observed in two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The ion beam properties are derived from a simple analytical model, and the possibility to control those properties by using a laser-pulse with sharp-rising edge is discussed. Potential application to hadron-therapy is finally considered.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

High-quality ion beams by irradiating a nano-structured target with a petawatt laser pulse

We present a novel laser based ion acceleration scheme, where a petawatt circularly polarized laser pulse is shot on an ultra-thin (nano-scale) double-layer target. Our scheme allows the production of high-quality light ion beams with both energy and angular dispersion controllable by the target properties. We show that extraction of all electrons from the target by radiation pressure can lead to a very effective two step acceleration process for light ions if the target is designed correctly. Relativistic protons should be obtainable with pulse powers of a few petawatt. Careful analytical modeling yields estimates for characteristic beam parameters and requirements on the laser pulse quality, in excellent agreement with one and two-dimensional Particle-in Cell simulations.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2009

Observation of beam loading in a laser-plasma accelerator

Beam loading is the phenomenon which limits the charge and the beam quality in plasma based accelerators. An experimental study conducted with a laser-plasma accelerator is presented. Beam loading manifests itself through the decrease of the beam energy, the reduction of dark current and the increase of the energy spread for large beam charge. 3D PIC simulations are compared to the experimental results and confirm the effects of beam loading. It is found that, in our experimental conditions, the trapped electron beams generate decelerating fields on the order of 1 GV/m/pC and that beam loading effects are optimized for trapped charges of about 20 pC.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2008

Quasimonoenergetic electron beams produced by colliding cross-polarized laser pulses in underdense plasmas

The interaction of two laser pulses in an underdense plasma has proven to be able to inject electrons in plasma waves, thus providing a stable and tunable source of electrons. Whereas previous works focused on the "beatwave" injection scheme in which two lasers with the same polarization collide in a plasma, this present letter studies the effect of polarization and more specifically the interaction of two colliding cross-polarized laser pulses. It is shown both theoretically and experimentally that electrons can also be pre-accelerated and injected by the stochastic heating occurring at the collision of two cross-polarized lasers and thus, a new regime of optical injection is demonstrated. It is found that injection with cross-polarized lasers occurs at higher laser intensities.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2008

Exact relativistic kinetic theory of an electron beam-plasma system: hierarchy of the competing modes in the system parameter space

Besides being one of the most fundamental basic issues of plasma physics, the stability analysis of an electron beam-plasma system is of critical relevance in many areas of physics. Surprisingly, decades of extensive investigation had not yet resulted in a realistic unified picture of the multidimensional unstable spectrum within a fully relativistic and kinetic framework. All attempts made so far in this direction were indeed restricted to simplistic distribution functions and/or did not aim at a complete mapping of the beam-plasma parameter space. The present paper comprehensively tackles this problem by implementing an exact linear model. We show that three kinds of modes compete in the linear phase, which can be classified according to the direction of their wavenumber with respect to the beam. We then determine their respective domain of preponderance in a three-dimensional parameter space. All these results are supported by multidimensional particle-in-cell simulations.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2007

Plasma wake inhibition at the collision of two laser pulses in an underdense plasma

An electron injector concept for laser-plasma accelerator was developed in ref [1] and [2] ; it relies on the use of counter-propagating ultrashort laser pulses. In [2], the scheme is as follows: the pump laser pulse generates a large amplitude laser wakefield (plasma wave). The counter-propagating injection pulse interferes with the pump laser pulse to generate a beatwave pattern. The ponderomotive force of the beatwave is able to inject plasma electrons into the wakefield. We have studied this injection scheme using 1D Particle in Cell (PIC) simulations. The simulations reveal phenomena and important physical processes that were not taken into account in previous models. In particular, at the collision of the laser pulses, most plasma electrons are trapped in the beatwave pattern and cannot contribute to the collective oscillation supporting the plasma wave. At this point, the fluid approximation fails and the plasma wake is strongly inhibited. Consequently, the injected charge is reduced by one order of magnitude compared to the predictions from previous models.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2007

Electron acceleration by colliding laser beams in plasmas

All-optical controlled injection and acceleration of electrons in a laser wakefield has recently been achieved (Faure et al, Nature v. 444 p. 737, 2006). Injection was made using a second counterpropagating laser pulse with the same polarization as the main pulse . In this scheme, the interference pattern formed during the collision between the pulses pre-accelerates electrons that are then trapped in the wakefield. Numerical simulations of this process performed with a new Particle-in-Cell code are presented here. The results show the nature of the injection mechanism and explain some striking features found experimentally, such as the dependence of beam energy with the collision position and the reduction of the charge at high energies. Simulations reproduce well the main features of the experimental observations.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2006

Remarks Concerning the Study of Four-Jet Events from Hadronic Decays of the Z0

The angular correlations of four-jet events from hadronic decays of the Z0 have been studied in the past mainly to extract from them the fundamental constants of quantum chromodynamics called colour factors. Previous studies have used all the available phase-space in order to maximize statistics. In this note we want to point out the possibility that significant differences between experiment and theory in restricted regions of phase-space might have escaped detection. Such differences could be a harbinger of the existence of new particles. Some preliminary results are presented.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2006

Early out-of-equilibrium beam-plasma evolution

We solve analytically the out-of-equilibrium initial stage that follows the injection of a radially finite electron beam into a plasma at rest and test it against particle-in-cell simulations. For initial large beam edge gradients and not too large beam radius, compared to the electron skin depth, the electron beam is shown to evolve into a ring structure. For low enough transverse temperatures, the filamentation instability eventually proceeds and saturates when transverse isotropy is reached. The analysis accounts for the variety of very recent experimental beam transverse observations.

physics.plasm-ph↗