High-Power, High-Energy Laser-Plasma THz Generation with Joule- and Kilojoule-Class Lasers

 

G. Bruhaug, H.G. Rinderknecht, M.S. Wei, G.W. Collins, and J.R. Rygg

Laboratory for Laser Energetics,

 

Y. E, K. Garriga, and X.C. Zhang

U. of Rochester

 

R. Smith, A. Necas, and K. Zhai

TAE Technologies

 

 

Ultra-intense (>10¹⁸ W/cm²) laser–plasma interactions have been found to be efficient sources of THz radiation. A wide variety of targets have been shown to generate THz radiation in this regime with a wide variety of laser conditions. Recent work at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics has tested multiple target configurations with both joule-and kilojoule-class lasers. This work better informs laser-plasma THz generation models and lays the foundation for applications using such large lasers as THz sources. Several upcoming experiments and applications using these high-power, high-energy THz sources are outlined, such as pulsed polarimetry of burning plasmas and relativistic THz-matter interactions. This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0003856.