Publications

2009

• La diffusion Thomson X comme diagnostic pour les plasmas denses et tièdes.
  
  • Barbrel B.
  , 2009. Les plasmas denses et tièdes (WMD, pour warm dense matter) sont définis par la zone qui, dans le diagramme densité-température, se situe entre les solides et les plasmas. C’est une région thermodynamique où la physique est difficile à décrire en raison des fortes interactions entre les particules et des couplages complexes qui relient entre elles les structures ioniques et électroniques. Pour ces plasmas, typiques de l’intérieur des planètes joviennes, des étoiles denses et des implosions obtenues par confinement inertiel, la validité des théories standard de la matière condensée et/ou de la physique statistique des plasmas est discutable. En l’absence de données expérimentales de référence, les différents paramètres nécessaires au calcul des propriétés de ces plasmas sont essentiellement déterminés par la théorie. La validation des modèles théoriques est donc indispensable. Elle passe par la comparaison entre les résultats des calculs théoriques et des données expérimentales de référence. La diffusion Thomson X (DTX) est une extension dans le domaine X du diagnostique plasma optique classique correspondant. Les espoirs sont grands d’utiliser les spectres DTX pour mesurer les paramètres thermodynamiques et structurels des plasmas WDM, afin de disposer d’un diagnostique puissant et polyvalent pour les études sur la fusion par confinement inertiel et l’astrophysique de laboratoire. Au cours de la thèse, différentes expériences en collaboration ont été réalisées sur de grandes installations laser (LULI, France ; RAL, UK ; Titan, US). Des spectres DTX ont étés obtenus et des diagnostics plasma permettant de mesurer les paramètres plasma de façon indépendante ont été mis en œuvre. Par ailleurs un travail numérique a été réalisé au CEA et un code permettant de simuler les spectres de diffusion Thomson X à partir des modèles classiques. Le code a été écrit afin de pouvoir être interfacé facilement avec les données provenant de modèles plus puissants développés par ailleurs au CEA : codes d’atome moyen SCAALP ou code de dynamique moléculaire quantique abinit. Ce travail à mis en évidence le fait que les barres sur les spectres résolus en angle permettent d’éliminer les modèles linéaires dans lesquels les corrélations ne sont pas prises en compte, clairement en dehors de leur domaine de validité dans le cas des plasmas WDM. Cependant l’analyse de l’influence du choix du modèle de matière choisi pour évaluer les corrélations ioniques et l’écrantage électronique sur l’analyse des spectres résolus en énergie met en avant le fait que les paramètres plasmas extraits dépendent encore largement du modèle choisi. Il reste aujourd’hui un effort expérimental à fournir. Des nouvelles avancées à la fois dans le domaine de la connaissance des plasmas WDM et du développement du diagnostique DTX ne pourront être obtenus qu’en améliorant les sources X utilisées, l’homogénéité du plasma sondé ainsi que sa caractérisation.
• Ponderomotive ion acceleration in dense plasmas at super-high laser intensities
  
  • Naumova Natalia
  • Schlegel T.
  • Tikhonchuk V.T.
  • Labaune C.
  • Sokolov I.V.
  • Mourou Gérard
  The European Physical Journal D : Atomic, molecular, optical and plasma physics, EDP Sciences, 2009, 55 (2), pp.393-398. Short laser pulses at super-high intensities such as those proposed in the Extreme Light Infrastructure (ELI) project open new prospects for efficient acceleration of ions in overdense plasmas. A simple analytical model and numerical simulations demonstrate that pulses with intensities exceeding 10 22 W/cm2 may efficiently accelerate ions to high energies up to a few GeV. Maximum ion energy and the energy spectrum of the accelerated ions can be tuned by an appropriate choice of laser pulse intensity and duration at a given plasma density distribution. © 2009 EDP Sciences, SIF, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. (10.1140/epjd/e2009-00250-2)
  DOI : 10.1140/epjd/e2009-00250-2
• High-order harmonic generation from plasma mirrors
  
  • Thaury Cédric
  • Quéré F.
  • George H.
  • Geindre J. P.
  • Monot P.
  • Martin Ph.
  The European Physical Journal. Special Topics, EDP Sciences / Springer Verlag, 2009, 175 (1), pp.4348. We discuss the two mechanisms involved in high-order harmonic generation from plasma mirrors, and show that they can be clearly identified experimentally. The very different phase properties of the corresponding harmonics lead to light beams with different divergences. This can be exploited to select a particular type of harmonic by spatial filtering in the far-field. (10.1140/epjst/e2009-01115-6)
  DOI : 10.1140/epjst/e2009-01115-6
• Observations of plasma heating by fast electron transport at the back side of solid targets
  
  • Malka G.
  • Nicolai P.
  • Brambrink E.
  • Santos J.
  • Aléonard M.M.
  • Audebert P.
  • Breil J.
  • Claverie G.
  • Gerbaux M.
  • Gobet F.
  • Hannachi F.
  • Méot V.
  • Morel Pierre
  • Scheurer J.N.
  • Tarisien M.
  • Tikhonchuk V.
  The European Physical Journal. Special Topics, EDP Sciences / Springer Verlag, 2009, 175, pp.143-146. Fast adiabatic plasma heating of a thin solid target irradiated by a high intensity laser has been observed by optical fast interferometry diagnostic. It is driven by the hot electron current induced by the laser plasma interaction at the front side of the target. Radial and longitudinal temperature profiles are calculated to reproduce the observed rear side plasma expansion. The main parameters of the suprathermal electrons have been calculated from these observations. (10.1140/epjst/e2009-01132-5)
  DOI : 10.1140/epjst/e2009-01132-5
• Study of iron under high pressure conditions using isentropic compression
  
  • Wei H.G.
  • Brambrink E.
  • Benuzzi A.
  • Ravasio A.
  • Morard Guillaume
  • Guyot F.
  • de Resseguier T.
  • Lescoute E.
  • Osaki N.
  • Myanishi K.
  • Zhao Gang
  • Liang Z.T.
  • Koenig M.
  , 2009 (1195), pp.pp. 727-730.
• Temporal and spectral behavior of sub-picosecond laser-created x-ray sources from low- to mid-Z elements.
  
  • Bastiani-Ceccotti Serena
  • Renaudin Patrick
  • Dorchies Fabien
  • Harmand Marion
  • Peyrusse Olivier
  • Audebert Patrick
  • Jacquemot Sylvie
  • Calisti Annette
  • Benredjem Djamel
  High Energy Density Physics, Elsevier, 2009, 6 (1), pp.99-104. We report on a set of experiments in which solid targets of different atomic numbers (Z) were irradiated with laser pulses of time durations ranging from 300 fs to 33 ps, and energies up to 26 J. The time-resolved X-ray emission in the 7.6-8.1 Å spectral range was measured using an ultra-fast X-ray streak camera coupled with a conical Bragg crystal. In this way we were able to follow the dramatic modification of the spectral features as a function of the laser duration. The features evolve from a "ns-type" emission, characterized by narrow and well-defined spectral lines, to very broad spectral features, due not only to the Stark broadening but also to the proliferation of satellites lines. The measured spectra also show strong time dependence, which allows us to follow the time evolution of the hydrodynamic parameters. We then compare the derived parameter with the CHIVAS hydro-radiative simulations. The experimental results are also compared with the AVERROES/TRANSPEC collisional-radiative code, and with precise spectral line shape calculations (PPP and PrismSPECT). The results seem to indicate regimes of interaction where hot electrons play an important role on spectral line formation. (10.1016/j.hedp.2009.05.018)
  DOI : 10.1016/j.hedp.2009.05.018
• Laser Smoothing and Imprint Reduction with a Foam Layer in the Multikilojoule Regime
  
  • Depierreux S.
  • Labaune C.
  • Michel D.
  • Stenz C.
  • Nicolaï P.
  • Grech M.
  • Riazuelo G.
  • Weber S.
  • Riconda C.
  • Tikhonchuk V.
  • Loiseau P.
  • Borisenko N.
  • Nazarov W.
  • Hüller S.
  • Pesme D.
  • Casanova M.
  • Limpouch J.
  • Meyer C.
  • Di-Nicola P.
  • Wrobel R.
  • Alozy E.
  • Romary P.
  • Thiell G.
  • Soullié G.
  • Reverdin C.
  • Villette B.
  Physical Review Letters, American Physical Society, 2009, 102 (19), pp.195005. This Letter presents first experimental results of the laser imprint reduction in fusion scale plasmas using a low-density foam layer. The experiments were conducted on the LIL facility at the energy level of 12 kJ with millimeter-size plasmas, reproducing the conditions of the initial interaction phase in the direct-drive scheme. The results include the generation of a supersonic ionization wave in the foam and the reduction of the initial laser fluctuations after propagation through 500 μm of foam with limited levels of stimulated Brillouin and Raman scattering. The smoothing mechanisms are analyzed and explained. (10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.195005)
  DOI : 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.195005
• Direct evidence of gas-induced laser beam smoothing in the interaction with thin foils
  
  • Benocci R.
  • Batani D.
  • Dezulian R.
  • Redaelli R.
  • Lucchini G.
  • Canova F.
  • Stabile H.
  • Faure Jérôme
  • Krousky E.
  • Masek K.
  • Pfeifer M.
  • Skala J.
  • Dudzak R.
  • Koenig M.
  • Tikhonchuk V.
  • Nicolaï Ph.
  • Malka Victor
  Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2009, 16 (1), pp.012703. The process of laser beam homogenization in a gas medium placed in front of a thin metallic foil has been studied. Experiments were performed using the Prague Asterix Laser System iodine laser [ Jungwirth et al., Phys. Plasmas 8, 2495 (2001) ] working at 0.44 μm wavelength and irradiance of about 10^15 W/cm^2. Homogenization was detected both by directly analyzing the transmitted laser beam and by studying the shock breakout on the foil rear side. Results show that the gas ionization by the laser pulse induces a strong refraction and produces an effective smoothing of large-scale intensity nonuniformities. (10.1063/1.3056396)
  DOI : 10.1063/1.3056396
• Classification of and recent research involving radiative shocks
  
  • Michaut Claire
  • Falize Emeric
  • Cavet Cécile
  • Bouquet Serge
  • Koenig M.
  • Vinci Tommaso
  • Reighard A. B.
  • Drake R. P.
  Astrophysics and Space Science, Springer Verlag, 2009, 322, pp.77-84. Radiative shocks (RS) occur in astrophysical systems and in high-energy density laboratory experiments. Aided by three dimensionless parameters, we propose a classification of RS into four types, integrating previous work that has focused independently on optical depth and on Mach number. Specific terms, such as a cooling function, a radiative flux, or radiative energy and pressure must be added to the Euler equations in order to model these various kinds of shocks. We examine how these terms correspond to the radiative classification regimes. In astrophysics, observed RS arise generally in optically thin material. Thus, radiation escapes without interaction with the surrounding gas, except perhaps to ionize it, and the energy loss in such shocks can be modeled by a cooling function Lambda. In this case only the post-shock region is structured by the radiation cooling. We found the analytical solution for hydrodynamic equations including Lambda &prop; rho <SUP> &epsilon; </SUP> P <SUP>zeta</SUP> x <SUP> theta </SUP> for arbitrary values of &epsilon;, zeta, theta. This is a completely new result. An application of this calculation for the accretion shock in cataclysmic variables of polar type is given in astrophysical terms. We also draw a parallel between RS experiments performed using the LULI2000 laser facility, in France and the Omega laser Facility, in USA. RS developed in these laboratories are more or less optically thick. These high-Mach number RS present a radiative precursor. (10.1007/s10509-008-9966-5)
  DOI : 10.1007/s10509-008-9966-5
• Fast-electron transport in cylindrically laser-compressed matter
  
  • Perez F.
  • Koenig M.
  • Batani D.
  • Baton S. D.
  • Beg F. N.
  • Benedetti C.
  • Brambrink E.
  • Chawla S.
  • Dorchies F.
  • Fourment C.
  • Galimberti M.
  • Gizzi L. A.
  • Heathcote R.
  • Higginson D. P.
  • Hulin S.
  • Jafer R.
  • Koester P.
  • Labate L.
  • Lancaster K.
  • Mackinnon A. J.
  • Mcphee A. G.
  • Nazarov W.
  • Nicolai P.
  • Pasley J.
  • Ravasio A.
  • Richetta M.
  • Santos J. J.
  • Sgattoni A.
  • Spindloe C.
  • Vauzour B.
  • Volpe L.
  Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2009, 51 (12). no abstract
• Experimental results to study astrophysical plasma jets using Intense Lasers
  
  • Loupias B.
  • Gregory C. D.
  • Falize Emeric
  • Waugh J.
  • Seiichi D.
  • Pikuz S. A.
  • Kuramitsu Y.
  • Ravasio Alessandra
  • Bouquet Serge
  • Michaut Claire
  • Barroso Patrice
  • Rabec Le Gloahec M.
  • Nazarov W.
  • Takabe H.
  • Sakawa Youichi
  • Woolsey N. C.
  • Koenig M.
  Astrophysics and Space Science, Springer Verlag, 2009, 322, pp.25-29. We present experimental results of plasma jet, interacted with an ambient medium, using intense lasers to investigate the complex features of astrophysical jets. This experiment was performed in France at the LULI facility, Ecole Polytechnique, using one long pulse laser to generate the jet and a short pulse laser to probe it by proton radiography. A foam filled cone target was used to generate high velocity plasma jet, and a gas jet nozzle produced the well known ambient medium. Using visible pyrometry and interferometry, we were able to measure the jet velocity and electronic density. We get a panel of measurements at various gas density and time delay. From these measurements, we could underline the growth of a perturbed shape of the jet interaction with the ambient medium. The reason of this last observation is still in debate and will be presented in the article. (10.1007/s10509-009-0025-7)
  DOI : 10.1007/s10509-009-0025-7
• K-edge Absorption spectra in Warm Dense Matter
  
  • Dorchies F.
  • Harmand M.
  • Levy A.
  • Fuchs J.
  • Mancic A.
  • Nakatsutsumi M.
  • Renaudin P.
  • Audebert P.
  • Peyrusse O.
  • Mazevet S.
  • Recoules V.
  , 2009, 1161, pp.200-+. no abstract
• Importance of magnetic resistive fields in the heating of a micro-cone target irradiated by a high intensity laser
  
  • d'Humieres E.
  • Rassuchine J.
  • Baton S.
  • Fuchs J.
  • Guillou P.
  • Koenig M.
  • Gremillet L.
  • Rousseaux C.
  • Kodama R.
  • Nakatsutsumi M.
  • Norimatsu T.
  • Batani D.
  • Morace A.
  • Redaelli R.
  • Dorchies F.
  • Fourment C.
  • Santos J. J.
  • Adams J.
  • Korgan G.
  • Malekos S.
  • Sentoku Y.
  • Cowan T. E.
  The European Physical Journal. Special Topics, EDP Sciences / Springer Verlag, 2009, 175, pp.89-95. no abstract
• Recent results at LULI on fast electron transport with and without guiding cone in the context of fast ignitor
  
  • Baton S. D.
  • Koenig M.
  • Fuchs J.
  • Gremillet L.
  • Rousseaux C.
  • Batani D.
  • Morace A.
  • Nakatsutsumi M.
  • Kodama R.
  • Norimatsu T.
  • Nishida A.
  • Dorchies F.
  • Fourment C.
  • Santos J. J.
  • Rassuchine J.
  • Cowan T.
  The European Physical Journal. Special Topics, EDP Sciences / Springer Verlag, 2009, 175, pp.77-82. no abstract
• Propagation of laser-generated plasma jet in an ambient medium
  
  • Loupias B.
  • Falize Emeric
  • Gregory C. D.
  • Vinci Tommaso
  • Pikuz S. A.
  • Waugh J.
  • Koenig M.
  • Ravasio Alessandra
  • Nazarov W.
  • Michaut Claire
  • Bouquet Serge
  • Kuramitsu Y.
  • Seiichi D.
  • Woolsey N. C.
  • Sakawa Youichi
  • Takabe H.
  • Schiavi A.
  • Atzeni S.
  Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2009, 51, pp.4027. In this work we present experimental research related to laboratory astrophysics using an intense laser. The goal of these experiments is to investigate some of the complex features of young stellar objects and astrophysical outflows, in particular the plasma jet interaction with the interstellar medium. The relevance of these experiments to astrophysics is measured through similarity criteria (scaling laws). These ensure the similarity between the astrophysical object and the laboratory provided that the dimensionless numbers are equivalent. Consequently, measurements of the plasma parameters are crucial to link laboratory research to astrophysics as they are needed for the determination of these dimensionless numbers. In this context, we designed experiments to generate plasma jets using an intense laser, and to study the evolution in vacuum and in an ambient medium. (10.1088/0741-3335/51/12/124027)
  DOI : 10.1088/0741-3335/51/12/124027
• Colliding plasma experiments to study astrophysical-jet relevant physics
  
  • Gregory C. D.
  • Howe J.
  • Loupias B.
  • Myers S. H.
  • Notley M. M.
  • Sakawa Youichi
  • Oya A.
  • Kodama Ryosuke
  • Koenig M.
  • Falize Emeric
  • Bouquet Serge
  • Michaut Claire
  • Woolsey N. C.
  Astrophysics and Space Science, Springer Verlag, 2009, 322, pp.37-41. We present the results of experiments in which jets are created through the collision of two laser-produced plasmas. These experiments use a simple `v-foil' target design: two thin foils are placed at an angle of 140° to each other, and irradiated with a high-energy laser. The plasmas from the rear face of these foils collide and drive plasma jets moving with a velocity of &tilde;300 km s<SUP>-1</SUP>. By choosing the foil thickness and material to suit the laser conditions available, it has proven possible to create plasma jets for which the relevant scaling parameters show significant overlap with those of outflows associated with young stellar objects (YSOs). Preliminary results are also shown from experiments to study the effect of an ambient gas on jet propagation. Nominally identical experiments are conducted either in vacuum or in an ambient medium of 5 mbar of nitrogen gas. The gas is seen to increase the jet collimation, and to introduce shock structures at the head of the outflow. (10.1007/s10509-009-0035-5)
  DOI : 10.1007/s10509-009-0035-5
• Microstructural investigation of laser-shocked iron foils
  
  • Morard Guillaume
  • de Resseguier T.
  • Bennuzi-Mounaix A.
  • Vinci T.
  • Lescoute E.
  • Brambrink E.
  • Koenig M.
  • Wei H.
  • Diziere A.
  • Occelli F.
  • Fiquet G.
  • Guyot F.
  AIP Conference Proceedings, American Institute of Physics, 2009, 1195 (1195), pp.882-885. High-power laser shots were carried out on 100 microns thick iron foils. The present paper is devoted to the study of recovered fragments. Analysis of the fragments morphology shows the influence of shock pressure on the fragmentation process. Evaluation of the fragment-size distribution is performed in function of the laser power and the measured free surface velocity. The results highlight a clear evolution with laser power density. (10.1063/1.3295285)
  DOI : 10.1063/1.3295285
• Fast electron propagation in high density plasmas created by shock wave compression
  
  • Santos J. J.
  • Batani D.
  • Mckenna P.
  • Baton S. D.
  • Dorchies F.
  • Dubrouil A.
  • Fourment C.
  • Hulin S.
  • Nicolai Ph
  • Veltcheva M.
  • Carpeggiani P.
  • Quinn M. N.
  • Brambrink E.
  • Koenig M.
  • Le Glohaec M. Rabec
  • Spindloe Ch
  • Tolley M.
  Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2009, 51 (1). no abstract
• Enhanced hot-electron localization and heating in high-contrast ultraintense laser irradiation of microcone targets
  
  • Rassuchine J.
  • d'Humieres E.
  • Baton S. D.
  • Guillou P.
  • Koenig M.
  • Chahid M.
  • Perez F.
  • Fuchs J.
  • Audebert P.
  • Kodama R.
  • Nakatsutsumi M.
  • Ozaki N.
  • Batani D.
  • Morace A.
  • Redaelli R.
  • Gremillet L.
  • Rousseaux C.
  • Dorchies F.
  • Fourment C.
  • Santos J. J.
  • Adams J.
  • Korgan G.
  • Malekos S.
  • Hansen S. B.
  • Shepherd R.
  • Flippo K.
  • Sentoku Y.
  • Cowan T. E.
  Physical Review E, American Physical Society (APS), 2009, 79 (3). no abstract
• Analytical structure of steady radiative shocks in magnetic cataclysmic variables
  
  • Falize Emeric
  • Michaut Claire
  • Cavet Cécile
  • Bouquet Serge
  • Koenig M.
  • Loupias B.
  • Ravasio Alessandra
  • Gregory C. G.
  Astrophysics and Space Science, Springer Verlag, 2009, 322, pp.71-75. In this paper we study specific classes of radiating shocks which are widely spread in astrophysical environments. We present new analytical solutions available for any exponents of typical power-law cooling function which generalize the five special cases (corresponding to specific values of these exponents) of radiating shocks structure and proceed to the analytical determination of physical quantities. Then an application of the results for the accretion shock in polar is realized. A discussion of the reproducibility of cooling layer in laboratory is proposed using scaling laws. (10.1007/s10509-009-9996-7)
  DOI : 10.1007/s10509-009-9996-7
• X-ray absorption for the study of warm dense matter
  
  • Levy A.
  • Dorchies F.
  • Harmand M.
  • Fourment C.
  • Hulin S.
  • Peyrusse O.
  • Santos J. J.
  • Antici P.
  • Audebert P.
  • Fuchs J.
  • Lancia L.
  • Mancic A.
  • Nakatsutsumi M.
  • Mazevet S.
  • Recoules V.
  • Renaudin P.
  • Fourmaux S.
  Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2009, 51 (12). no abstract
• Study of iron under high pressure conditions using isentropic compression
  
  • G. Wei H.
  • Brambrink E.
  • Benuzzi-Mounaix A.
  • Ravasio A.
  • Morard Guillaume
  • de Resseguier T.
  • Lescoute E.
  • Ozaki N.
  • Miyanishi K.
  • Zhao Gang
  • T. Liang Z.
  • Koenig M.
  • Guyot F.
  proceeding of shock compression of condensed matter, 2009, pp.727-730. We use directly driven method to compress the iron along isentropic path. By adjusting the pulse intensity of laser to increase with time, we directly ablated the iron target with laser to achieve isentropic compression. Rear surface velocities of the iron targets were recorded by VISAR (Velocity Interferometer System for Any Reflector). The iron (bcc) to (hcp) phase transformation was clearly observed. Experiment results were compared with simulations
• Smoothing of laser energy deposition by gas jets
  
  • Batani D.
  • Benocci R.
  • Dezulian R.
  • Redaelli R.
  • Canova F.
  • Stabile H.
  • Lucchini G.
  • Malka Victor
  • Faure Jérôme
  • Koenig M.
  • Krousky E.
  • Masek K.
  • Pfeifer M.
  • Skala J.
  • Dudzak R.
  • Limpouch J.
  • Tikhoncuk V.
  • Nicolai P.
  The European Physical Journal. Special Topics, EDP Sciences / Springer Verlag, 2009, 175 (1), pp.65-70. Smoothing of laser beam non-uniformities using gas jets has been studied. The experiment has been performed with the PALS laser working at 0.44 ?m with an intensity of about 1015 W/cm2. The laser beam has been split in two by a prism thus creating an artificial large-scale non-uniformity (?90 ?m). We recorded time resolved and static images of laser-gas jet interaction with and without an Al target. Multi 1D and 2D simulations show that such interaction acts redistributing the over-intensities over larger surface. This effect has to be attributed to ionization processes with consequent laser beam refraction. Results show that Argon gas jet produces a strong refraction of the laser beam thus strongly reducing the initial two spots separation. © EDP Sciences and Springer 2009. (10.1140/epjst/e2009-01119-2)
  DOI : 10.1140/epjst/e2009-01119-2
• Prospective Echocardiographic and Tissue Doppler Imaging Screening of a Population of Maine Coon Cats Tested for the A31P Mutation in the Myosin-Binding Protein C Gene: A Specific Analysis of the Heterozygous Status
  
  • Carlos Sampedrano C.
  • Chetboul Valérie
  • Mary J.
  • Tissier Renaud
  • Abitbol M.
  • Serres F.
  • Gouni V.
  • Thomas A.
  • Pouchelon J.-L.
  Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Wiley, 2009, 23 (1), pp.91-99. Background: A mutation in the sarcomeric gene coding for the myosin-binding protein C gene has been identified in a colony of Maine Coon cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (MyBPC3-A31P mutation). However, the close correlation between genotype and phenotype (left ventricular hypertrophy [LVH] and dysfunction) has never been assessed in a large population, particularly in heterozygous (Hetero) cats. Objectives: To investigate LV morphology and function with echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in a population of Maine Coon cats tested for the MyBPC3-A31P mutation with focus on Hetero animals. Animals: Ninety-six Maine Coon cats. Methods: Prospective observational study. Cats were screened for the MyBPC3-A31P mutation and examined with both echocardiography and 2-dimensional color TDI. Results: Fifty-two out of 96 cats did not have the mutation (wild-type genotype, Homo WT), 38/96 and 6/96 were Hetero- and homozygous-mutated (Homo M) cats, respectively. Only 11% of Hetero cats (4/38) had LVH and 29% (10/34) of Hetero cats without LVH were >4 years old (4.1–11.5 years). LVH was also detected in 2 Homo WT cats (4%). A significantly decreased (P < .05) longitudinal E/A (ratio between early and late diastolic myocardial velocities) in the basal segment of the interventricular septum was observed in Hetero cats without LVH (n = 34) compared with Homo WT cats without LVH (n = 50), thus confirming that the Hetero status is associated with regional diastolic dysfunction (P < .05). Conclusions: The heterozygous status is not consistently associated with LVH and major myocardial dysfunction. Moreover, Homo WT cats can also develop LVH, suggesting that other genetic causes might be implicated. (10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0218.x)
  DOI : 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2008.0218.x