OSU/UCSD/GA Experimental Program

1. University of California, San Diego Center for Energy Research OSU/UCSD/GA Experimental Program J. Pasley, E. Shipton, T. Ma, B. Bucher, S. Chen, F. Beg University of California at San Diego E. Chowdhury, L. Van Woerkom, R. Freeman Ohio State University R. Stephens General Atomics A. Edens, J. Schwarz, P. Rambo, M. Geissel, M. Ramsey, I. Smith, J. Porter Sandia National Laboratory

2. Overview • We have commenced an experimental program at Sandia National Laboratory using the new Z-PetaWatt upgrade laser • This laser is in the process of being commissioned, with our experiments on-going throughout the commissioning process • I will show how our experimental program is developing hand-in-hand with the facilities at Sandia

3. Planned experiments rely on a continued escalation of capabilities • HIGH ENERGIES • 10 – 20 J (Jan ’06) 80J in 400fs (Summer ’06) • Production of bench marking data for relativistic electron modeling codes such as LSP and Osiris • Low-mass wire experiments to investigate electron transport in simple ‘1-D’ geometry • Flat foil LPI experiments to investigate electron response in laser spot • TWO BEAM • (Summer/ Fall ’06) • Proton deflectometry to facilitate magnetic field measurement

4. April ’05 May ’05 June ’05 July ’05 August ‘05 Experimental time-line Facility Experiment Physics Installation of target chamber vacuum system May 2005 Beam path enclosure completed Front end optimization Installation and preliminary alignment of final (large ф )optics

5. September ’05 October ’05 November ’05 Facility Experiment Physics Installation of movable shield wall Target alignment system / cameras installed CW Focal spot optimization 3 x 4 μm 4.5 x 9μm Commissioning activities for sub-5J energy shots Set-up for ion time of flight diagnostic 5J OPCPA Set-up of gas lines for gas puff experiments

6. December ’05 January ’06 Facility Experiment Physics Pulses in the 1-5J range available into gas puffs First shots into gas puffs Commissioning activities associated with bringing up disk amplifiers Focal spot intensity from direct measurement (~5.6 x 1016W/cm2) Work on vacuum system to reduce noise level Commissioning activities associated with bringing up disk amplifiers Now Improved measure of focused intensity

7. February ’06 March ‘06 Facility Experiment Physics 20J -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 Commissioning activities ramping up available energy to 80J

8. April ’06 May ’06 June ’06 July ‘06 Facility Experiment Physics More energy allows for brighter sources, and higher resolution We are investigating approaches to micron resolution imaging that would enable filamentary structures to be resolved Commissioning activities ramping up available energy to 80J Reflectivity probe setup Installation of two-beam set-up Novel HEDP experiments – bright backlighters / ‘fill tube’ implosions 80J

9. August ’06 September ’06 October ’06 November ‘06 Facility Experiment Physics 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

10. Conclusions • We commenced taking data at the Z-PetaWatt facility in December • As the laser is commissioned, and we increase our diagnostic portfolio, more sophisticated experiments will be facilitated