Multi-PetaWatt Laser-Plasma Interactions: A New Frontier in Physics

The interaction of intense laser pulses with matter is opening up new frontiers in physics via the production of extreme pressures, temperatures and intense electric and magnetic fields. This is leading to the use of high power laser radiation for exploring the properties of hot dense matter, the production of high energy particles and radiation, and the development of schemes to generate energy by inertial confinement fusion. These advances are driven by rapid developments in ultrashort pulse laser technology which have enabled new regimes in laser power and intensity to be reached. With the advent of multi-petawatt power lasers (e.g. the upgrade project to the Vulcan laser at the UK's Central Laser Facility will deliver 10 petawatt pulses by 2013-2014) exotic new plasmas with unique properties are accessible, including strongly relativistic dense plasma. The principal aims of this proposed project are to investigate the fundamentals of laser-solid interactions in strongly relativistic plasmas - a regime of laser-plasma interactions not previously accessible - and to harness predicted promising new ion acceleration schemes achievable with ultrahigh intensity laser pulses. This will advance our understanding of ultrahigh intensity laser solid interactions and may lead to new applications of laser-plasma-based particle and radiation sources. The proposal involves the development and application of new techniques on experiments using some of the highest power laser systems available.

My proposed research programme has a wide range of potential economic and societal impacts. The programme establishes new directions in the exploration of the interaction of intense laser pulses with matter and will provide fundamental new understanding of the underlying physical processes. This will positively impact on the development of advanced approaches to achieve the challenging goal of inertial fusion energy and the development of potentially compact laser-driven sources of high energy ions.

Accelerators underpin almost every aspect of our day-to-day lives. They are used extensively in industry, in the development of electronics for example, and are directly applied in healthcare, in the production of positron emission tomography (PET) isotopes for imaging and in particle therapy/oncology. The proposed research involves the development of laser-driven ion sources and promises to push the ion energies achieved above the threshold needed for application to ion oncology. Laser-driven particles and radiation sources offer advantages over conventional sources, including the possibility to easily switch between different types of particles and radiation simply by changing the target (the same laser driver is used for electrons, ions and high energy radiation) and the ability to produce multiple types of radiation in synchronised pulses. The unique properties of laser-accelerated ion beams, together with the well-known versatility and flexibility offered by lasers, make laser-ion sources potentially applicable to a wide range of fields, in energy, medicine, security and science. These sources could therefore have truly revolutionary impact on many different aspects of society, including health and quality of life.

New understanding of the fundamental physics of ultraintense laser-matter interactions will result from this project. This will have a strong positive impact on many potential applications of high power lasers. An important example is found in the energy sector. Fusion offers the long-term potential of being a clean and abundant source of energy. Promising new schemes such as the Fast Ignition approach to Inertial Confinement Fusion are being developed as a potentially cost-effective approach for the commercial exploitation of fusion. Results from the proposed project will help benchmark simulation codes that are used in the development of Fast Ignition and other advanced fusion energy schemes. Thus the project will contribute to the development of solutions to society's long-term energy needs.

The proposed research is at the forefront of high power laser science. It will drive the development of high power laser facilities and lead to new, as yet unforeseen, scientific advances, as well as the training of scientists to take on leading roles in the many international, multi-billion pound high power laser projects being developed.

The potential for significant economic impact arises through the prospective uptake of potentially compact laser-driven high energy ion sources in industry and other sectors, and through the long term potential for the development of advanced approaches to fusion energy. Thus the research enabled by the proposed project will provide lasting positive benefits to society and to the economy.