Femtosecond laser-plasma dynamics study by a time-resolved Mach-Zehnder-like interferometer

Area of Science:

• Plasma Physics
• Laser-Plasma Interactions

Background:

• Laser-induced plasmas are crucial in various scientific fields.
• Understanding plasma dynamics is essential for optimizing laser-driven applications.
• Previous diagnostic methods lacked the temporal resolution to capture rapid plasma evolution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a time-resolved diagnostic system for laser-induced plasmas.
• To investigate the dynamics of plasma evolution, including ionization and recombination processes.
• To establish a tool for characterizing gas targets and laser-target interactions in laser wakefield acceleration.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a home-built, time-resolved Mach-Zehnder-like interferometer.
• Employed a pump-probe technique with femtosecond resolution.
• Measured side-view plasma density profiles.

Main Results:

• Observed plasma dynamics and pump pulse propagation with femtosecond resolution.
• Provided evidence of impact ionization and recombination effects during plasma evolution up to hundreds of picoseconds.
• Successfully demonstrated the capability of the interferometer for detailed plasma diagnostics.

Conclusions:

• The developed interferometer is a key tool for diagnosing laser-induced plasmas.
• The system enables detailed studies of plasma evolution and laser-target interactions.
• This diagnostic capability is vital for advancing laser wakefield acceleration research.