Publications

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Sont listées ci-dessous, par année, les publications figurant dans l'archive ouverte HAL.

2025

Laser interactions with gas jets: EMP emission and nozzle damage
- Bradford Philip Wykeham
- Ospina-Bohorquez Valeria
- Ehret Michael
- Henares Jose-Luis
- Puyuelo-Valdes Pilar
- Chodukowski Tomasz
- Pisarczyk Tadeusz
- Rusiniak Zofia
- Salgado-Lopez Carlos
- Vlachos Christos
- Sciscio Massimiliano
- Salvadori Martina
- Verona Claudio
- Hicks George
- Ettlinger Oliver
- Najmudin Zulfikar
- Marques Jean-Raphael
- Gremillet Laurent
- Santos Joao Jorge
- Consoli Fabrizio
- Tikhonchuk Vladimir
High Power Laser Science and Engineering, Cambridge University Press, 2025, 12, pp.e98. Understanding the physics of electromagnetic pulse emission and nozzle damage is critical for the long-term operation of laser experiments with gas targets, particularly at facilities looking to produce stable sources of radiation at high repetition rate. We present a theoretical model of plasma formation and electrostatic charging when high-power lasers are focused inside gases. The model can be used to estimate the amplitude of gigahertz electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) produced by the laser and the extent of damage to the gas jet nozzle. Looking at a range of laser and target properties relevant to existing high-power laser systems, we find that EMP fields of tens to hundreds of kV/m can be generated several metres from the gas jet. Model predictions are compared with measurements of EMP, plasma formation and nozzle damage from two experiments on the VEGA-3 laser and one experiment on the Vulcan Petawatt laser. (10.1017/hpl.2024.73)
DOI : 10.1017/hpl.2024.73
Probing ultrafast foam homogenization with grating-based X-ray dark-field imaging
- Wegert Leonard
- Rauch Constantin
- Schreiner Stephan
- Schneider Markus
- Michel Thilo
- Anton Gisela
- Albertazzi Bruno
- Koenig Michel
- Meyer Pascal
- Fröjdh Erik
- Mozzanica Aldo
- Yang Yang
- Hornung Johannes
- Zielbauer Bernhard
- Martynenko Artem
- Lepape Sébastien
- Funk Stefan
- Neumayer Paul
Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing Group, 2025, 15 (1), pp.42564. Microstructured foams are emerging as a promising class of targets, with applications ranging from laser-driven particle acceleration to inertial confinement fusion. To unlock their full potential, a deeper understanding of their properties, especially the changes and behavior of the microstructure under extreme conditions, is required. While recently advancing 3D printed foam targets can be observed by X-ray radiography, the microstructure in chemically produced targets is far below the spatial resolution of conventional radiography. To overcome this limitation, we apply grating-based X-ray dark-field imaging to observe structural changes in foams that are rapidly heated by laser-accelerated proton pulses. The experimental data is compared to synthetic dark-field values obtained from hydrodynamic simulations of a simplified foam model. Both experimental and simulation results demonstrate the viability of utilizing grating-based dark-field imaging for observing microstructural changes in foam targets. (10.1038/s41598-025-30010-8)
DOI : 10.1038/s41598-025-30010-8
Stimulated Brillouin scattering dependence on polarization state, speckle shape, and polarization smoothing implementation
- Moreau J G
- Blanchot N.
- Rousseaux C.
- Baton S D
- Penninckx D.
- Fusaro A.
- Loiseau P.
- Collin R.
- Riazuelo G.
- Masson-Laborde P.-E.
- Zou J P
- Lancia L.
- Rouyer C.
- Maunier C.
- Ribeyre X.
- Coic H.
- Selwa O.
- Daurios J.
- Neauport J.
Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2025, 32 (3), pp.032102. Laser beam smoothing is a key element to enhance laser plasma hydrodynamic coupling in the context of high energy density physics experiments carried out in Inertial Confinement Fusion Facilities. Here, we experimentally study the effects of different polarization smoothing implementations on the Stimulated Brillouin Backscattering (B-SBS) and the transmission of a laser beam using the LULI2000 laser facility. First, we show that the polarization state (linear or circular) has no effect on B-SBS and transmission. We also show that under our experimental conditions, both the statistical average laser power carried by the speckle spots and their statistical average shape provide information on the effectiveness of the laser beam smoothing configuration. These findings open new paths for the optimization of high-power laser beam smoothing techniques on existing and future laser facilities. (10.1063/5.0238070)
DOI : 10.1063/5.0238070
Entropy mode driven gas optics
- Michel P.
- Oudin A.
- Rajesh H.
- Ou K.
- Chakraborty D.
- Cao S.
- Kur E.
- Lancia L.
- Ghosh D.
- Riconda C.
- Wurtele J. S.
- Edwards M. R.
, 2025. We propose a novel class of gaseous diffractive optical elements created by imprinting an entropy mode in a gas. Previous approaches to gaseous diffractive optics relied on the simultaneous excitation of a standing acoustic wave and an entropy mode to produce one-dimensional periodic structures. However, the presence of acoustic oscillations in the gas imposes stringent constraints on some operational parameters of these optical elements, such as their lifetime and diffraction angle. In this work, we introduce a new approach that eliminates the acoustic mode, relying solely on the entropy mode. This enables control of the lifetime and temporal profile of gaseous optical elements, and also allows the creation of arbitrary structures with greater contrast, including non-periodic patterns such as chirped gratings or lenses. This approach should allow operation over a wider parameter space, including larger diffraction angles and compatibility with laser pulse durations ranging from femtoseconds to microseconds.
Apollon Real-Time Adaptive Optics (ARTAO) -- Astronomy-Inspired Wavefront Stabilization in Ultraintense Lasers
- Ohland Jonas Benjamin
- Lebas Nathalie
- Deo Vincent
- Guyon Olivier
- Mathieu François
- Audebert Patrick
- Papadopoulos Dimitrios
High Power Laser Sci.Eng., 2025, 13, pp.e29. Traditional wavefront control in high-energy, high-intensity laser systems usually lacks real-time capability, failing to address dynamic aberrations. This limits experimental accuracy due to shot-to-shot fluctuations and necessitates long cool-down phases to mitigate thermal effects, particularly as higher repetition rates become essential, e.g. in Inertial Fusion research. This paper details the development and implementation of a real-time capable adaptive optics system at the Apollon laser facility. Inspired by astronomical adaptive optics, the system uses a fiber-coupled 905 nm laser diode as a pilot beam that allows for spectral separation, bypassing the constraints of pulsed lasers. A GPU-based controller, built on the open-source CACAO framework, manages a loop comprising a bimorph deformable mirror and high-speed Shack-Hartmann sensor. Initial tests showed excellent stability and effective aberration correction. However, integration into the Apollon laser revealed critical challenges unique to the laser environment that must be resolved to ensure safe operation with amplified shots. (10.1017/hpl.2025.16)
DOI : 10.1017/hpl.2025.16
Experimental and numerical investigation of laser intensity distribution influence on laser pressure loading
- Weber Mathieu
- Raffray Y.
- Loison D.
- Aubert B
- Benuzzi-Mounaix A
- Berthe L.
- Harmand M
- Jodar B.
- Videau L.
- Vinci T
- Hébert D.
Journal of Applied Physics, American Institute of Physics, 2025, 138 (3), pp.033104. Laser shock applications are numerous and various. They all require to know how pressure loading-due to laser irradiation-is influenced by laser parameters. This study aims at analyzing the influence of laser intensity distribution on pressure loading. This work presents the results from laser shots proceeded at LULI2000 on aluminum with LiF window targets. First, laser parameters are introduced and the radial distribution of laser intensity is estimated, thanks to a fourfold Gaussian distribution. Then, the experimental results and post-mortem samples are analyzed. Afterward, two methodologies to estimate the laser pressure loading-considering the laser intensity distribution-are described, applied, and compared. The first one with the monodimensional multi-physics simulation code ESTHER and the second one coupling the use of both ESTHER and the bidimensional (2D) hydrodynamics simulation code HESIONE [Aubert et al., J. Laser Appl. 31, 042014 (2019)]. The discussion presents the accuracy of these two methodologies regarding the experimental results. Comparison with a perfect top-hat laser intensity distribution highlights the edge effects. Finally, future possible works are suggested such as testing the methodology on other laser facilities or using a 2D/3D multi-physics simulation code. (10.1063/5.0273654)
DOI : 10.1063/5.0273654
Broadband incoherent source based on Semiconductor Optical Amplifier for fusion applications
- Meignien Loïc
- Degrandcourt Titouan
- Delagnes Jean-Christophe
- Hanna Marc
- Lebegue Pierre
- Audebert Patrick
, 2025, pp.JW2A.46. Broadband incoherent laser pulses have recently gained significant interest, particularly in the context of inertial confinement fusion (ICF). Since the 2022 demonstration of fusion by the National Ignition Facility (NIF) [1], numerous academic laboratories and startups have been rapidly growing with the shared goal of achieving decarbonized electricity production. The scientific corpus of plasma physics suggests that broadband incoherent laser sources could play a pivotal role by improving the deposition of laser energy onto targets while mitigating deleterious effects that reduce the coupling efficiency of the laser to the target. Such effects include cross-beam energy transfer (CBET), as well as Brillouin and Raman scattering. To the best of our knowledge, no laser source currently available on the market meets all the parameters required for traditional high-intensity laser facilities, particularly in terms of the temporal shaping of large-bandwidth pulses. Nowadays, temporal pulse shaping in intense laser facilities is typically achieved using classical electro-optic modulators (EOMs) coupled with arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs). However, due to the Mach-Zehnder structure of EOMs, they are inherently limited in terms of contrast versus bandwidth. (10.1364/assl.2025.jw2a.46)
DOI : 10.1364/assl.2025.jw2a.46
Input to the European Strategy for Particle Physics: Strong-Field Quantum Electrodynamics
- Sarri G
- King B
- Blackburn T
- Ilderton A
- Boogert S
- Bulanov S.S
- Bulanov S.V
- Di Piazza A
- Ji L
- Karbstein F
- Keitel C.H
- Krajewska K
- Malka V
- Mangles S.P.D
- Mathieu F
- Mckenna P
- Meuren S
- Mirzaie M
- Ridgers C
- Seipt D
- Thomas A.G.R
- Uggerhøj U
- Vranic M
- Wing M
Eur.Phys.J.Plus, 2025, 140 (11), pp.1151. This document sets out the intention of the strong-field QED community to carry out, both experimentally and numerically, high-statistics parametric studies of quantum electrodynamics in the non-perturbative regime, at fields approaching and exceeding the critical or `Schwinger' field of QED. In this regime, several exotic and fascinating phenomena are predicted to occur that have never been directly observed in the laboratory. These include Breit-Wheeler pair production, vacuum birefringence, and quantum radiation reaction. This experimental program will also serve as a stepping stone towards studies of elusive phenomena such as elastic scattering of real photons and the conjectured perturbative breakdown of QED at extreme fields. State-of-the-art high-power laser facilities in Europe and beyond are starting to offer unique opportunities to study this uncharted regime at the intensity frontier, which is highly relevant also for the design of future multi-TeV lepton colliders. However, a transition from qualitative observational experiments to quantitative and high-statistics measurements can only be performed with large-scale collaborations and with systematic experimental programs devoted to the optimisation of several aspects of these complex experiments, including detector developments, stability and tolerances studies, and laser technology. (10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-07057-7)
DOI : 10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-07057-7
Shock-driven amorphization and melting in Fe2O3
- Crépisson Céline
- Amouretti Alexis
- Harmand Marion
- Sanloup Chrystèle
- Heighway Patrick
- Azadi Sam
- Mcgonegle David
- Campbell Thomas
- Pintor Juan
- Chin David Alexander
- Smith Ethan
- Hansen Linda
- Forte Alessandro
- Gawne Thomas
- Lee Hae Ja
- Nagler Bob
- Shi Yuanfeng
- Fiquet Guillaume
- Guyot François
- Makita Mikako
- Benuzzi-Mounaix Alessandra
- Vinci Tommaso
- Miyanishi Kohei
- Ozaki Norimasa
- Pikuz Tatiana
- Nakamura Hirotaka
- Sueda Keiichi
- Yabuuchi Toshinori
- Yabashi Makina
- Wark Justin
- Polsin Danae
- Vinko Sam
Physical Review B, American Physical Society, 2025, 111 (2), pp.024209. We present measurements on Fe2O3 amorphization and melt under laser-driven shock compression up to 209(10) GPa via time-resolved x-ray diffraction. At 122(3) GPa, a diffuse signal is observed indicating the presence of a noncrystalline phase. Structure factors have been extracted up to 182(6) GPa showing the presence of two well-defined peaks. A rapid change in the intensity ratio of the two peaks is identified between 145(12) and 151(12) GPa, indicative of a phase change. The noncrystalline diffuse scattering is consistent with shock amorphization of Fe2O3 between 122(3) and 145(12) GPa, followed by an amorphous-to-liquid transition above 151(12) GPa. Upon release, a noncrystalline phase is observed alongside crystalline α −Fe2O3. The extracted structure factor and pair distribution function of this release phase resemble those reported for Fe2O3 melt at ambient pressure. (10.1103/PhysRevB.111.024209)
DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevB.111.024209
Protocols and analysis of wavefront distortions in Nd:glass amplifiers during flash-pumping : towards the active coherent beam combining of kilojoule-class laser chains.
- Lebegue Pierre
- Rapeneau Cyril
- Badarau Doina
- Froidevaux Marie
- de Sousa Joanna
- Meignien Loïc
- Doudet Ivan
- Chan Nolan
- Wattellier Benoit
- Audebert Patrick
- Papadopoulos Dimitris
- Druon Frédéric
, 2025, pp.AW5A.4. We present an innovative protocol to characterize “on-shot aberrations” of large-scale flash-lamp amplifiers. Our results are obtained with a high-speed wavefront sensor at 61k-fps and aim to pave the way to active coherent beam combing. (10.1364/assl.2025.aw5a.4)
DOI : 10.1364/assl.2025.aw5a.4
Kinetic structure of strong-field QED showers in crossed electromagnetic fields
- Pouyez Mattys
- Grismayer Thomas
- Grech Mickael
- Riconda Caterina
Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society, 2025, 134 (13), pp.135001. A complete, kinetic description of electron-seeded strong-field QED showers in crossed electromagnetic fields is derived. The kinetic structure of the shower and its temporal evolution are shown to be a function of two parameters: the initial shower quantum parameter and radiation time. The latter determines the short and long time evolution of the shower. Explicit solutions for the shower multiplicity (number of pairs per seed electron) and the emitted photon spectrum are obtained for both timescales. Our approach is first derived considering showers in a constant, homogeneous magnetic field. We find that our results are valid for any crossed fields and we apply them to laboratory settings for which we obtain fully analytical, predictive scaling laws. (10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.135001)
DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.135001
Understanding the Transport Properties of Methane–Hydrogen Mixtures under the Interior Conditions of Ice Giants
- Roy Argha Jyoti
- Bethkenhagen Mandy
- Bergermann Armin
- Redmer Ronald
The Astrophysical Journal, American Astronomical Society, 2025, 990 (2), pp.212. Inaccuracy in our knowledge of the transport properties of relevant mixtures under planetary interior conditions is a roadblock in predicting the observable properties of planets in our solar system and beyond. In this work, we investigate methane–hydrogen mixtures using data sets obtained from density functional theory calculations for the electronic structure, combined with molecular dynamics simulations for the ions for a wide range of pressure and temperature. Hydrogen concentration significantly affects the equation of state (EOS) but has little influence on transport properties. We provide an analytical expression to model thermal EOS and transport properties as a function of hydrogen content, with the maximum deviation observed at low P – T conditions. These insights are particularly relevant to improve the planetary models and enhance our ability to predict the properties of “ice” giants and beyond. (10.3847/1538-4357/adf5be)
DOI : 10.3847/1538-4357/adf5be
Self-triggered strong-field QED collisions in laser-plasma interaction
- Matheron Aimé
- Andriyash Igor
- Davoine Xavier
- Gremillet Laurent
- Pouyez Mattys
- Grech Mickael
- Lancia Livia
- Phuoc Kim Ta
- Corde Sébastien
Physical Review Research, American Physical Society, 2025, 7 (3), pp.L032011. Exploring quantum electrodynamics in the most extreme conditions, where electron-positron pairs can emerge in the presence of a strong background field, is now becoming possible in Compton collisions between ultraintense lasers and energetic electrons. In the strong-field regime, the colliding electron emits $\gamma$ rays that decay into pairs in the strong laser field. While the combination of conventional accelerators and lasers of sufficient power poses significant challenges, laser-plasma accelerators offer a promising alternative for producing the required multi-GeV electron beams. To overcome the complexities of colliding these beams with another ultraintense laser pulse, we propose a novel scheme in which a single laser pulse both accelerates the electrons and collides with them after self-focusing in a dedicated plasma section and reflecting off a plasma mirror. The laser intensity boost in the plasma allows the quantum interaction parameter to be greatly increased. Using full-scale numerical simulations, we demonstrate that a single 100 J laser pulse can achieve a deep quantum regime with electric fields in the electron rest frame as high as $\chi_e\sim 5$ times the Schwinger critical field, resulting in the production of about 40 pC of positrons. (10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L032011)
DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.L032011

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