High-repetition rate solid target delivery system for PW-class laser-matter interaction at ELI Beamlines

Area of Science:

• High-energy laser systems
• Laser-matter interactions
• Advanced target delivery systems

Background:

• The L3-HAPLS (High-repetition-rate Advanced Petawatt Laser System) at ELI (Extreme Light Infrastructure) Beamlines operates at 0.45 PW with a 3.3 Hz repetition rate.
• Previous laser-matter interaction studies were limited by target delivery and stability.
• Need for a robust target system capable of withstanding high laser intensities and energies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To technically describe and validate an in-house tape target system for the L3-HAPLS laser.
• To demonstrate the system's capability for providing a fresh target surface for each laser shot.
• To assess the shot-to-shot stability of the tape target system in conjunction with the L3-HAPLS laser.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a tape target system designed for high laser intensities and energies.
• Testing with material thicknesses of 25 µm and 7.6 µm.
• Utilizing an x-ray crystal spherical spectrometer for Kα yield stability measurements.
• Employing a GHz H-field probe to assess electromagnetic pulse generation stability.

Main Results:

• The tape target system successfully delivered fresh surfaces for laser shots ranging from 1 to 12 J.
• Demonstrated excellent shot-to-shot stability in terms of Kα yield and electromagnetic pulse generation.
• The system provides an approximately 300° free angle of view for diverse experimental geometries.

Conclusions:

• The developed tape target system is a reliable and stable solution for high-repetition-rate petawatt laser experiments.
• The system's design facilitates various laser-matter interaction studies.
• Future improvements are planned for enhanced user operation efficiency.