A scalable multipass laser cavity based on injection by frequency conversion for noncollective Thomson scattering

Area of Science:

• Plasma physics
• Laser-plasma interactions
• Diagnostic techniques

Background:

• Noncollective Thomson scattering is crucial for diagnosing low-density plasmas.
• Existing methods may lack sufficient signal strength for certain plasma regimes.
• Developing advanced diagnostic tools is essential for plasma research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a scalable multipass cavity for noncollective Thomson scattering.
• To enhance the energy on target for improved plasma diagnostics.
• To demonstrate the viability of the setup for low-density plasma measurements.

Main Methods:

• Utilized injection by frequency conversion to establish a multipassing cavity.
• Implemented a multipass cavity for noncollective Thomson scattering experiments.
• Conducted Rayleigh scattering experiments to validate the setup.

Main Results:

• The multipass cavity supported over 10 passes through the target volume.
• Achieved a 400% increase in energy on target compared to a single-pass setup.
• Demonstrated viability for studying low-density plasmas (10^12-10^13 cm^-3).

Conclusions:

• The multipass cavity offers a significant advantage over single-pass setups for Thomson scattering.
• The developed system provides higher signal per shot, beneficial for low-density plasma diagnostics.
• This technique is a promising advancement for plasma research and diagnostics.