arXiv subjects

M. Helle

Publications and source records attributed to M. Helle.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2015

Plasma lenses for ultrashort multi-petawatt laser pulses

An ideal plasma lens can provide the focusing power of a small f-number, solid-state focusing optic at a fraction of the diameter. An ideal plasma lens, however, relies on a steady-state, linear laser pulse-plasma interaction. Ultrashort multi-petawatt (MPW) pulses possess broad bandwidths and extreme intensities, and, as a result, their interaction with the plasma lens is neither steady state nor linear. Here we examine nonlinear and time-dependent modifications to plasma lens focusing, and show that these result in chromatic and phase aberrations and amplitude distortion. We find that a plasma lens can provide enhanced focusing for 30 fs pulses with peak power up to ~1 PW. The performance degrades through the MPW regime, until finally a focusing penalty is incurred at ~10 PW.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2014

A nonlinear plasma retroreflector for single pulse Compton backscattering

Compton scattered x-rays can be generated using a configuration consisting of a single, ultra-intense laser pulse, and a shaped gas target. The gas target incorporates a hydrodynamically formed density spike, which nonlinearly scatters the incident pump radiation, to produce a counter-propagating electromagnetic wiggler. This self-generated wiggler field Compton scatters from electrons accelerated in the laser wakefield of the pump radiation. The nonlinear scattering mechanism in the density spike is examined theoretically and numerically in order to optimize the Compton scattered radiation. It is found that narrow-band x-rays are produced by moderate intensity pump radiation incident on the quarter-critical surface of the density spike, while high fluence, broadband x-rays are produced by high intensity pump radiation reflected near the critical surface.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2011

Brownian refrigeration by hybrid tunnel junctions

Voltage fluctuations generated in a hot resistor can cause extraction of heat from a colder normal metal electrode of a hybrid tunnel junction between a normal metal and a superconductor. We extend the analysis presented in [Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 210604 (2007)] of this heat rectifying system, bearing resemblance to a Maxwell's demon. Explicit analytic calculations show that the entropy of the total system is always increasing. We then consider a single electron transistor configuration with two hybrid junctions in series, and show how the cooling is influenced by charging effects. We analyze also the cooling effect from nonequilibrium fluctuations instead of thermal noise, focusing on the shot noise generated in another tunnel junction. We conclude by discussing limitations for an experimental observation of the effect.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Far-infrared spectra of lateral quantum dot molecules

We study effects of electron-electron interactions and confinement potential on the magneto-optical absorption spectrum in the far-infrared range of lateral quantum dot molecules. We calculate far-infrared (FIR) spectra for three different quantum dot molecule confinement potentials. We use accurate exact diagonalization technique for two interacting electrons and calculate dipole-transitions between two-body levels with perturbation theory. We conclude that the two-electron FIR spectra directly reflect the symmetry of the confinement potential and interactions cause only small shifts in the spectra. These predictions could be tested in experiments with nonparabolic quantum dots by changing the number of confined electrons. We also calculate FIR spectra for up to six noninteracting electrons and observe some additional features in the spectrum.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2005

Two-electron lateral quantum-dot molecules in a magnetic field

Laterally coupled quantum dot molecules are studied using exact diagonalization techniques. We examine the two-electron singlet-triplet energy difference as a function of magnetic field strength and investigate the magnetization and vortex formation of two- and four-minima lateral quantum dot molecules. Special attention is paid to the analysis of how the distorted symmetry affects the properties of quantum-dot molecules.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗