Thesis

A study of stimulated Brillouin scattering in laser produced plasmas

Downloadable Content

Download PDF
Creator
Rights statement
Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
  • Scottish Universities Physics Alliance.
Date of award
  • 2013
Thesis identifier
  • T13869
Qualification Level
Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • The production of high power, short duration laser pulses is of interest to a wide variety of applications ranging from high-energy-density physics to laser-driven nuclear fusion. The exploitation of laser-plasma instabilities, in particular stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS), for the creation of such pulses is found to have great potential. Analysis from numerical, analytical and experimental studies are presented within this thesis which were constructed to develop a platform of knowledge to enable the understanding and development of stimulated Brillouin scattering as a possible means of laser amplification to ultra-high intensities. From these studies a number of scaling laws were developed governing the optimal parameter space for the laser pump beam, probe beam and the plasma amplifier in addition to the ability to control the final amplified pulse characteristics. Optimum regions of parameter space occurring at a density of 0.3nc with pump and seed laser intensities of 1x10¹⁶16Wcm⁻² and 1x10¹⁵Wcm⁻², respectively, were found to produce efficient laser amplification of 57%. The scalability to wider regions of parameter space was also confirmed for laser intensities down to 1x10¹³3Wcm⁻². The presence of Brillouin scattering was noted for all underdense plasmas studied with Brillouin amplification being effective for densities greater than the quarter critical density level due to mode competition with Raman scattering. Collisional processes were also investigated and it was found that the introduction of collisions results in an increase in the efficiency of laser amplification via stimulated Brillouin scattering by 10% and a significant increase in the contrast of the resultant seed laser beam. Corroboration between the numerical, analytical and experimental studies undertaken indicates a high level of reliability in the results presented throughout this thesis.
Resource Type
DOI
Date Created
  • 2013
Former identifier
  • 1041429

Relations

Items

Thumbnail Title Date Uploaded Visibility Actions
file details 1. Thesis 2021-07-02 Public Download
file details 2._Appendix.zip 2021-07-02 Public Download