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At least 181 records · Page 10

Terahertz Solitons in Condensed Media

Theoretical approaches to the formation and propagation of soliton-like broadband electromagnetic and acoustic pulses with terahertz frequencies in condensed media are reviewed. Solitons of different types are analyzed and controlling their parameters by modifying the nonlinear medium is discussed. Nonlinear molecular excitations in biopolymers whose frequencies fall into the terahertz range are considered, and their interactions with external fields of resonant frequencies are discussed.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Effect of polarization on the structure of electromagnetic field and spatiotemporal distribution of e{sup +}e{sup –} pairs generated by colliding laser pulses

We have studied the production of electron–positron pairs due to polarization of vacuum in the presence of the strong electromagnetic field of two counterpropagating laser pulses. The structure of the electromagnetic field with the circular polarization has been determined using the 3D model of focused laser pulses, which was proposed by Narozhny and Fofanov. Analytic calculations have shown that the electric and magnetic fields are almost parallel to each other in the focal region when the laser pulses are completely transverse in the electric (E-wave) or magnetic (H-wave) field. On the other hand, the electric and magnetic fields are almost orthogonal when laser pulses consist of a mixture of E- and H-waves of the same amplitude. It has been found that although the latter configuration of colliding laser pulses has a much higher pair production threshold, it can generate much shorter electron–positron pulses as compared to the former configuration. The dependence of the production efficiency of pairs and their spatiotemporal distribution on the polarization of laser pulses has been analyzed using the structure of the electromagnetic field in the focal plane.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Saddle point approaches in strong field physics and generation of attosecond pulses

Attoscience is the emerging field that accesses the fastest electronic processes occurring at the atomic and molecular length scales with attosecond (1 as = 10 –18 s) time resolution having wide ranging physical, chemical, material science and biological applications. The quintessential and one of the most fundamental processes in this domain is the generation of phase locked XUV attosecond pulses. The theoretical approach to understand the process incorporates a fully quantum or semi classical or relativistic description of coherent charge dynamics in intense ultrashort electromagnetic fields driving a quantum system (an atom, a molecule, solid band gap materials or surface plasmas). Modelling of such physical and dynamical systems in science and also in many other branches often leads to equations represented in terms of complex multi-dimensional integrals. These integrals can often be solved using the stationary phase approximation, which leads to a series of equations identifying the points in the multi-dimensional space, having most significant contributions in their evaluation. These points are usually indicated as saddle points. The description of the dynamics of quantum mechanical or relativistic systems that results from such an approach enables near to classical physics intuitive perceptions of the processes under investigation. Thus, the saddle point methods are very powerful and valuable general theoretical tools to obtain asymptotic expressions of such solutions and help also to gain physical insights on the underlying phenomena. Such techniques developed in the past have been adapted to study the emission of as pulses by different physical systems and have been widely employed in calculating and estimating the response of matter to intense electromagnetic pulses on ultrafast time scales. Here we provide an extensive disposition of the saddle point approaches unifying their ubiquitous applications within the domain of attoscience valid for simple atomic to more complex condensed matter systems undergoing ultrafast dynamics and present current trends and advancements in the field. In this review we would delineate the methodology, present a synthesis of seminal works and describe the state of the art applications. Finally we also address ultrashort time dynamics of novel materials that have gained much attention recently, namely lower dimensional material systems and micro-plasma systems.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Elliptically polarised normal modes under conditions of nonstationary electromagnetically induced transparency

We report the results of numerical simulation of the evolution of a weak elliptically polarised input probe pulse in the case of electromagnetically induced transparency in the field of elliptically polarised control light. It is shown that the electric field strength of any input probe pulse can be represented as a sum of the electric field strengths of two subpulses whose polarisation ellipses have the same constant eccentricities and mutually perpendicular directions of the major axes, one of these axes being parallel to the major axis of the polarisation ellipse of the control light. The directions of rotation of the electric field strength vectors of subpulses are mutually opposite. Subpulses move with different velocities in a medium, which leads to their spatial separation. In the propagation of subpulses, their polarisation characteristics (eccentricities and directions of major axes of polarisation ellipses) remain unchanged. At any stage of evolution, including the instants of significant spatial overlapping of subpulses, the intensity of the probe light in the medium is the sum of their intensities. Consequently, these subpulses are nonstationary mutually orthogonal elliptically polarised normal modes of the probe field whose existence is related to the medium anisotropy caused by the control field. The simulation is carried out for a scheme of degenerate quantum transitions between {sup 3}P{sub 0}, {sup 3}P{sup 0}{sub 1} and {sup 3}P{sub 2} levels of the 208Pb isotope, taking into account the Doppler broadening of the spectral lines under the assumption that the probe field has a higher frequency than the control field. (nonlinear optical phenomena)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Apparatus for GHz rate high duty cycle pulsing and manipulation of low and medium energy DC electron beams

An ElectroMagnetic-Mechanical Pulser can generate electron pulses at rates up to 50 GHz, energies up to 1 MeV, duty cycles up to 10%, and pulse widths between 100 fs and 10 ps. A modulating Transverse Deflecting Cavity (“TDC”) imposes a transverse modulation on a continuous electron beam, which is then chopped into pulses by an adjustable Chopping Collimating Aperture. Pulse dispersion due to the modulating TDC is minimized by a suppressing section comprising a plurality of additional TDC's and/or magnetic quadrupoles. In embodiments the suppression section includes a magnetic quadrupole and a TDC followed by four additional magnetic quadrupoles. The TDC's can be single-cell or triple-cell. A fundamental frequency of at least one TDC can be tuned by literally or virtually adjusting its volume. TDC's can be filled with vacuum, air, or a dielectric or ferroelectric material. Embodiments are easily switchable between passive, continuous mode and active pulsed mode.

Baryshev, Sergey V.↗

RF pulse shape control in the compact linear collider test facility

The Compact Linear Collider (CLIC) is a study for an electron–positron machine aiming at accelerating and colliding particles at the next energy frontier. The CLIC concept is based on the novel two-beam acceleration scheme, where a high-current low-energy drive beam generates RF in series of power extraction and transfer structures accelerating the low-current main beam. To compensate for the transient beam-loading and meet the energy spread specification requirements for the main linac, the RF pulse shape must be carefully optimized. This was recently modelled by varying the drive beam phase switch times in the sub-harmonic buncher so that, when combined, the drive beam modulation translates into the required voltage modulation of the accelerating pulse. In this paper, the control over the RF pulse shape with the phase switches, that is crucial for the success of the developed compensation model, is studied. The results on the experimental verification of this control method are presented and a good agreement with the numerical predictions is demonstrated. Implications for the CLIC beam-loading compensation model are also discussed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Ytterbium laser system for studying parametric amplification of femtosecond pulses with a centre wavelength of ∼2 μm

A laser system is developed with an optical synchronisation of a femtosecond signal with a pump channel. The signal of a driving ytterbium fibre laser with a 60 MHz repetition rate of stretched femtosecond pulses is amplified in energy from several nanojoules to 0.4 mJ at a pulse repetition rate of 3 kHz in a wideband amplifier and then is compressed in time to 250 fs. The obtained radiation is used for generating femtosecond laser pulses with a centre wavelength of ∼2 μm, pulse energy of above 20 μJ, duration of several field oscillations, and phase stabilisation between the electromagnetic field and envelope. The other pulse of the driving fibre laser provides optical synchronisation and a minimal time delay and is directed to a regenerative Yb : YAG disk amplifier for amplification to an energy of 4 mJ at a pulse repetition rate of 3 kHz and duration of 20 ps. A multipass disk amplifier is developed for further increasing the energy of pump chirped pulses to an energy of 70 mJ at a pulse repetition rate of 10 Hz and duration of 400 ps for studying parametric amplification under sub-nanosecond pumping. (paper)

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Sirius I: prototype of a prime-power source for future 1 - 10 GJ fusion-yield experiments

We have designed, assembled, and tested a prototype coaxial impedance-matched Marx generator (IMG). An IMG is a pulsed-power device that achieves electromagnetic-power amplification by triggered emission of radiation. Hence an IMG is a pulsed-power analog of a laser, with an energy efficiency of 90%. We have demonstrated that the prototype performs as predicted theoretically, thereby proving the IMG concept. We propose that a system of IMGs drive a next-generation pulsed-power accelerator that delivers 90 MA to a physics load. Such a machine would attain thermonuclear-fusion yields as high as 1 – 10 GJ, and revolutionize high energy-density-physics experiments in support of the national-security mission.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Cylindrical and plane surface electromagnetic waves in laser technology of silicon surface texturing with a double femtosecond pulse

This paper presents experimental results of laser modification of the surface of monocrystalline silicon under the influence of a double femtosecond laser pulse with varying delays less than or close to the electron–phonon interaction time, as well as the results of numerical simulation of the photoexcitation of a semiconductor in the approximation of dielectric constant. It is shown that the excitation of cylindrical surface waves not only precedes the excitation of plane surface electromagnetic waves, but is also a determining factor in the cumulative change in the dielectric constant of the medium and the creation of conditions for the excitation of plane surface electromagnetic waves.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Electromagnetic field-assisted method for chemical conversion

Embodiments relate to methods for enhancing chemical conversions. One or more embodiments relate to a method for enhancing a multi-step chemical conversion reaction. The method includes providing a reactant mixture comprising one or more reacting specie(s); and providing a catalyst or sorbent comprising one or more support materials and one or more deposited catalytically active materials. The method further includes applying an electromagnetic field with a prescribed power, frequency, and pulsing strategy specific to interactions of reactant species and an electromagnetic field with at least one of the support materials, sorbent, and catalytically active materials in a particular chemical reaction.

Shekhawat, Dushyant↗

Transverse electron acceleration in the field of terahertz radiation. Terahertz synchrotron

We study transverse acceleration of an electron introduced to a terahertz pulse along the direction of the electromagnetic field wave vector in the presence of an external permanent magnetic field. We estimate the possible increment of the electron energy as well as the acceleration length and turn angle of the electron leaving the pulse. The developed acceleration scheme may be employed (in addition to the electron accelerator itself) in a terahertz synchrotron, possible parameters of which are estimated. (paper)

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Super-octave longwave mid-infrared coherent transients produced by optical rectification of few-cycle 25-μm pulses

Femtosecond laser sources and optical frequency combs in the molecular fingerprint region of the electromagnetic spectrum are crucial for a plethora of applications in natural and life sciences. Here we introduce Cr 2+ -based lasers as a convenient means for producing super-octave mid-IR electromagnetic transients via optical rectification (or intra-pulse difference frequency generation, IDFG). We demonstrate that a relatively long, 2.5 μm, central wavelength of a few-cycle Cr 2+ :ZnS driving source (20 fs pulse duration, 6 W average power, 78 MHz repetition rate) enabled the use of highly nonlinear ZnGeP 2 crystal for IDFG with exceptionally high conversion efficiency (>3%) and output power of 0.15 W, with the spectral span of 5.8–12.5 μm. Even broader spectrum was achieved in GaSe crystal: 4.3–16.6 μm for type I and 5.8–17.6 μm for type II phase matching. The results highlight the potential of this architecture for ultrafast spectroscopy and generation of broadband frequency combs in the longwave infrared.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Ultrashort Optical Pulses in Carbon Nanotubes and Heavy-Ion Absorption

Propagation of electromagnetic waves in a medium with zigzag carbon nanotubes is studied. Based on the Maxwell equations, an effective equation for the electromagnetic field vector potential is derived, which takes into account ion oscillations in the dielectric medium with nanotubes. It is found that the pulse shape depends on the character of oscillations of heavy ions, which may absorb the electromagnetic field, and on other parameters of the problem.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Terahertz inverse spin Hall effect in spintronic nanostructures with various ferromagnetic materials

Bilayers of ferromagnetic and heavy metal nanolayers excited with femtosecond laser pulses emit subpicosecond bursts of electromagnetic radiation with spectral frequencies up to several THz. We fabricated such spintronic THz emitters containing various ferromagnetic materials with vastly different magnetic remanence, saturation magnetization, and coercive fields. In all cases, the THz amplitude versus magnetic-field dependence follows the independently measured magnetization hysteresis loops and the THz polarization direction is perpendicular to the sample’s magnetization M, both consistent with the inverse spin Hall effect (ISHE) as the physical origin. The mV-level signals of observed THz transient also favor the ISHE over the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE). The M(T) variation governs the temperature dependence of the THz generation. Emitters with weakly remanent ferromagnets are magnetic-field tunable, while moderately and strongly remanent ferromagnets, once magnetized, allow intense THz generation even without an external field, nevertheless exhibiting low susceptibility to magnetic perturbations if the hysteresis loop is square. Hence, exploiting the magnetic properties of the ferromagnetic layer enables tailoring of weakly temperature-dependent spintronic THz emitters. Finally, we explored the applicability of perovskite oxide materials such as La-Sr-Mn-O (LSMO) for THz transient generation. We detected weak (<40-μV amplitude) THz emissions from both LSMO/Au and pure LSMO nanostructures with no sign flip upon the sample reversal. Furthermore, we excluded the ISHE and believe it was likely governed by the ANE in the thick-film regime, although we cannot exclude the transient demagnetization mechanism.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

X-ray free-electron lasing in a flying-focus undulator

Laser-driven free-electron lasers (LDFELs) replace magnetostatic undulators with the electromagnetic fields of a laser pulse. Because the undulator period is half the wavelength of the laser pulse, LDFELs can amplify X rays using lower electron energies and over shorter interaction lengths than a traditional free-electron laser. In LDFELs driven by conventional laser pulses, the undulator uniformity required for high gain necessitates large laser-pulse energies. Here, we show that a flying-focus pulse provides the undulator uniformity required to reach high gain with a substantially lower energy than a conventional pulse. The flying-focus pulse features an intensity peak that travels in the opposite direction of its phase fronts. This enables an LDFEL configuration where an electron beam collides head-on with the phase fronts and experiences a near-constant undulator strength as it co-propagates with the intensity peak. Three-dimensional simulations of this configuration demonstrate the generation of megawatts of coherent X-ray radiation with 20 × less energy than a conventional laser pulse.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

The Status and Prospects of the Muon $g-2$ Experiment at Fermilab

The E989 Muon $g-2$ Experiment at Fermilab aims to measure the muon magnetic anomaly, $a_\mu$, to an unprecedented precision of 140 parts per billion (ppb), representing a four-fold improvement over the current best measurement, achieved at Brookhaven National Lab. There stands a greater than 3 standard deviations discrepancy between the Brookhaven measurement of $a_\mu$ and the theoretical value predicted using the Standard Model. The Fermilab experiment seeks to either resolve or confirm this discrepancy, which is suggestive of new physics interactions. To achieve the E989 target precision, the anomalous precession frequency of muons in a magnetic storage ring must be determined with a systematic uncertainty below 70\,ppb, and the average magnetic field experienced by these stored muons must be known equally well. The muon anomalous precession frequency is imprinted on the time-dependent energy distribution of decay positrons observed by 24 electromagnetic calorimeters. A suite of pulsed NMR probes continually monitors the magnetic field. This document presents the current status of the Fermilab experiment while emphasizing the ongoing analysis of the 2018 Run 1 dataset and the systematic effects that complicate it.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Kinetic simulations of laser parametric amplification in magnetized plasmas

Laser pulse compression using magnetized resonance near the upper-hybrid frequency is promising for achieving higher output intensity in regimes previously thought impossible using unmagnetized plasmas. Using one dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we verify that, by partially replacing plasma with an external transverse magnetic field of megagauss scale, the output pulse can be intensified by a factor of a few, due to the increased allowable amplification time despite a decreased growth rate. Further improvement is impeded by the generation of an electromagnetic wakefield, to which the amplified pulse loses more energy than it does in the unmagnetized case. This limitation can however be circumvented by the use of a stronger pump. In contrast to unmagnetized compression, the magnetized amplification remains efficient when the pump intensity is well above the wavebreaking threshold, until a higher phase-mixing threshold is exceeded. Here, this surprising resilience to wavebreaking in magnetized plasma is of great benefit for magnetized compression.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗