Ultrafast radiation sources and their applications

This project focuses on the development of ultrafast laser driven radiation sources (high harmonic generation from both solid and gas media, X-rays and protons/ions). The early goals are to develop a comprehensive understanding of the laser matter interaction for coherent synchrotron emission, relativistically oscillating mirror harmonics and coherent wake emission and the a detailed dynamics underpinning their efficiency. In the medium to longer term, the goals if the project are to understand how these sources can be applied to understanding ultrafast laser matter interactions. One of the major challenges is understanding how deposited dose evolves on ultrafast timescales. With these sources our ability to investigate this evolution in real time. One of the key goals of the project will be to compare this evolution for X-rays and protons interacting simultaneously in matter.