Publications

2018

• SMILEI : A collaborative, open-source, multi-purpose particle-in-cell code for plasma simulation
  
  • Derouillat J.
  • Beck A.
  • Pérez F.
  • Vinci T.
  • Chiaramello M.
  • Grassi A.
  • Flé M.
  • Bouchard G.
  • Plotnikov I.
  • Aunai Nicolas
  • Dargent Jérémy
  • Riconda C.
  • Grech M.
  Computer Physics Communications, Elsevier, 2018, 222, pp.351-373. SMILEI is a collaborative, open-source, object-oriented (C ) particle-in-cell code. To benefit from the latest advances in high-performance computing (HPC), SMILEI is co-developed by both physicists and HPC experts. The code's structures, capabilities, parallelization strategy and performances are discussed. Additional modules (e.g. to treat ionization or collisions), benchmarks and physics highlights are also presented. Multi-purpose and evolutive, SMILEI is applied today to a wide range of physics studies, from relativistic laser-plasma interaction to astrophysical plasmas. (10.1016/j.cpc.2017.09.024)
  DOI : 10.1016/j.cpc.2017.09.024
• X-ray absorption radiography for high pressure shock wave studies
  
  • Antonelli L.
  • Atzeni S.
  • Batani D.
  • Baton S.D.
  • Brambrink E.
  • Forestier-Colleoni P.
  • Koenig M.
  • Bel E. Le
  • Maheut Y.
  • Nguyen-Bui T.
  • Richetta M.
  • Rousseaux C.
  • Ribeyre X.
  • Schiavi A.
  • Trela J.
  Journal of Instrumentation, IOP Publishing, 2018, 13 (01), pp.C01013-C01013. (10.1088/1748-0221/13/01/C01013)
  DOI : 10.1088/1748-0221/13/01/C01013
• Book of Abstracts,16th International Conference on the Physics of Non-Ideal Plasmas (PNP16)
  
  • Clerouin Jean
  • Deutsch Claude
  • Koenig Michel
  • Maynard Gilles
  • Mikikian Maxime
  • Recoules Vanina
  • Deutsch Nimet
  , 2018.
• Analytical modelling of the expansion of a solid obstacle interacting with a radiative shock
  
  • Michel Th.
  • Falize E.
  • Albertazzi Bruno
  • Rigon G.
  • Sakawa Y.
  • Sano T.
  • Shimogawara H.
  • Kumar R.
  • Morita T.
  • Michaut C.
  • Casner A.
  • Barroso P.
  • Mabey P.
  • Kuramitsu Y.
  • Laffite S.
  • van Box Som L.
  • Gregori G.
  • Kodama R.
  • Ozaki N.
  • Tzeferacos P.
  • Lamb D.
  • Koenig M.
  High Power Laser Science and Engineering, Cambridge University Press, 2018, 6. In this paper, we present a model characterizing the interaction of a radiative shock (RS) with a solid material, as described in a recent paper (Koenig et al., Phys. Plasmas, 24, 082707 (2017)), the new model is then related to recent experiments performed on the GEKKO XII laser facility. The RS generated in a xenon gas cell propagates towards a solid obstacle that is ablated by radiation coming from the shock front and the radiative precursor, mimicking processes occurring in astrophysical phenomena. The model presented here calculates the dynamics of the obstacle expansion, which depends on several parameters, notably the geometry and the temperature of the shock. All parameters required for the model have been obtained from experiments. Good agreement between experimental data and the model is found when spherical geometry is taken into account. As a consequence, this model is a useful and easy tool to infer parameters from experimental data (such as the shock temperature), and also to design future experiments. (10.1017/hpl.2018.24)
  DOI : 10.1017/hpl.2018.24
• Transfers from Earth to LEO and LEO to interplanetary space using lasers
  
  • Phipps Claude R.
  • Bonnal Christophe
  • Masson Frédéric
  • Boustié Michel
  • Berthe Laurent
  • Schneider Matthieu
  • Baton Sophie D
  • Brambrink Erik
  • Chevalier Jean Marc
  • Videau Laurent
  • Boyer Séverine A.E.
  Acta Astronautica, Elsevier, 2018, 146, pp.92-102. New data on some materials at 80ps pulse duration and 1057 nm wavelength give us the option of proportionally combining them to obtain arbitrary values between 35 (aluminum) and 800 N/MW (POM, polyoxymethylene) for momentum coupling coefficient Cm. Laser ablation physics lets us transfer to LEO from Earth, or to interplanetary space using repetitively pulsed lasers and Cm values appropriate for each mission. We discuss practical results for lifting small payloads from Earth to LEO, and space missions such as a cis-Mars orbit with associated laser system parameters. (10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.02.018)
  DOI : 10.1016/j.actaastro.2018.02.018
• Liquid properties in the Fe-FeS system under moderate pressure: Tool box to model small planetary cores
  
  • Morard Guillaume
  • Bouchet Johann
  • Rivoldini Attilio
  • Antonangeli Daniele
  • Roberge Mathilde
  • Boulard Eglantine
  • Denoeud Adrien
  • Mezouard Mohamed
  The American Mineralogist, Mineralogical Society of America, 2018. (10.2138/am-2018-6405)
  DOI : 10.2138/am-2018-6405
• The role of the global phase in the spatio-temporal evolution of strong-coupling Brillouin scattering
  
  • Amiranoff François
  • Riconda C.
  • Chiaramello M.
  • Lancia L.
  • Marquès Jean-Raphaël
  • Weber Sébastien J.
  Physics of Plasmas, American Institute of Physics, 2018, 25 (1), pp.013114. (10.1063/1.5019374)
  DOI : 10.1063/1.5019374
• Magnetic reconnection driven by electron dynamics
  
  • Kuramitsu Y.
  • Moritaka T.
  • Sakawa Y.
  • Morita T.
  • Sano T.
  • Koenig M.
  • Gregory C.
  • Woolsey N.
  • Tomita K.
  • Takabe H.
  • Liu Y.
  • Chen S. H.
  • Matsukiyo S.
  • Hoshino M.
  Nature Communications, Nature Publishing Group, 2018, 9 (1), pp.5109. Magnetic reconnections play essential roles in space, astrophysical, and laboratory plasmas, where the anti-parallel magnetic field components re-connect and the magnetic energy is converted to the plasma energy as Alfvénic out flows. Although the electron dynamics is considered to be essential, it is highly challenging to observe electron scale reconnections. Here we show the experimental results on an electron scale reconnection driven by the electron dynamics in laser-produced plasmas. We apply a weak-external magnetic field in the direction perpendicular to the plasma propagation, where the magnetic field is directly coupled with only the electrons but not for the ions. Since the kinetic pressure of plasma is much larger than the magnetic pressure, the magnetic field is distorted and locally anti-parallel. We observe plasma collimations, cusp and plasmoid like features with optical diagnostics. The plasmoid propagates at the electron Alfvén velocity, indicating a reconnection driven by the electron dynamics. (10.1038/s41467-018-07415-3)
  DOI : 10.1038/s41467-018-07415-3
• Numerical simulations of laser-driven cratering experiments into porous graphite
  
  • Aubert Bertrand
  • Hébert David
  • Rullier Jean-Luc
  • Chevalier Jean-Marc
  • Berthe Laurent
  • Brambrink Erik
  • Lescoute Emilien
  • Videau Laurent
  • Franzkowiak Jean-Eloi
  • Jodar Benjamin
  • Loison Didier
  • Nivard M.
  EPJ Web of Conferences, EDP Sciences, 2018, 183, pp.1060. We present the results of an experimental campaign conducted on the LULI2000 laser facility. Semi-infinite targets of a commercial grade of porous graphite were submitted to high-power laser irradiation inorder to generate craters. A 15 ns pulse duration was used along with a focal spot diameter of 900 μm to deliver energies up to 750 J. Numerical simulations of these shots have been performed following a specificmethodology which can be divided in three steps. Firstly, the mechanical loading induced by the laser iscalibrated by simulating the same shot on a thin aluminum target of which free surface velocity is measured byPDV and line-VISAR. Secondly, the same shot is performed on a thin graphite target to validate the materialmodel of graphite. Thirdly, the craterization shot on semi-infinite target is simulated. Numerical results arecompared to experimental measurements of craters obtained using an interferometric profilometer. (10.1051/epjconf/201818301060)
  DOI : 10.1051/epjconf/201818301060
• Coherent beam combining of seven fiber chirped-pulse amplifiers using an interferometric phase measurement
  
  • Heilmann Anke
  • Le Dortz Jérémy
  • Daniault Louis
  • Fsaifes Ihsan
  • Bellanger Séverine
  • Bourderionnet Jérôme
  • Larat Christian
  • Lallier Eric
  • Antier Marie
  • Durand Eric
  • Simon-Boisson Christophe
  • Brignon Arnaud
  • Chanteloup Jean-Christophe
  Optics Express, Optical Society of America - OSA Publishing, 2018, 26 (24), pp.31542. (10.1364/OE.26.031542)
  DOI : 10.1364/OE.26.031542
• Toward compact and ultra-intense laser-based soft x-ray lasers
  
  • Sebban Stéphane
  • Depresseux Adrien
  • Oliva Eduardo
  • Gautier Julien
  • Tissandier F.
  • Nejdl J.
  • Kozlova M.
  • Maynard G.
  • Goddet Jean-Philippe
  • Tafzi Amar
  • Lifschitz Agustin
  • Kim H
  • Jacquemot S.
  • Rousseau Pascal
  • Zeitoun Philippe
  • Rousse Antoine
  Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, IOP Publishing, 2018, 60 (1), pp.014030. We report here recent work on an optical field ionized (OFI), high-order harmonic-seeded EUV laser. The amplifying medium is a plasma of nickel-like krypton obtained by OFI when focusing a 1 J, 30 fs, circularly-polarized, infrared pulse into a krypton-filled gas cell or krypton gas jet. The lasing transition is the 3d(9)4d (J = 0) -> 3d(9)4p (J = 1) transition of Ni-like krypton ions at 32.8 nm and is pumped by collisions with hot electrons. The gain dynamics was probed by seeding the amplifier with a high-order harmonic pulse at different delays. The gain duration monotonically decreased from 7 ps to an unprecedented shortness of 450 fs full width at half-maximum as the amplification peak rose from 150 to 1200 with an increase of the plasma density from 3 x 10(18) to 1.2 x 10(20) cm(-3). The integrated energy of the EUV laser pulse was also measured, and found to be around 2 mu J. It is to be noted that in the ASE mode, longer amplifiers were achieved (up to 2 cm), yielding EUV outputs up to 14 mu J. (10.1088/1361-6587/aa8aaf)
  DOI : 10.1088/1361-6587/aa8aaf
• Electron acceleration by wave turbulence in a magnetized plasma
  
  • Rigby A.
  • Cruz F.
  • Albertazzi B.
  • Bamford R.
  • Bell A.R.
  • Cross J.E.
  • Fraschetti F.
  • Graham P.
  • Hara Y.
  • Kozlowski P.M.
  • Kuramitsu Y.
  • Lamb D.Q.
  • Lebedev S.
  • Marques J.R.
  • Miniati F.
  • Morita T.
  • Oliver M.
  • Reville B.
  • Sakawa Y.
  • Sarkar S.
  • Spindloe C.
  • Trines R.
  • Tzeferacos P.
  • Silva L.O.
  • Bingham R.
  • Koenig M.
  • Gregori G.
  Nature Physics, Nature Publishing Group [2005-....], 2018, 14 (5), pp.475-479. Astrophysical shocks are commonly revealed by the non-thermal emission of energetic electrons accelerated in situ 1$^{–}$3 . Strong shocks are expected to accelerate particles to very high energies 4$^{–}$6 , however, they require a source of particles with velocities fast enough to permit multiple shock crossings. While the resulting diffusive shock acceleration 4 process can account for observations, the kinetic physics regulating the continuous injection of non-thermal particles is not well understood. Indeed, this injection problem is particularly acute for electrons, which rely on high-frequency plasma fluctuations to raise them above the thermal pool 7$^{,}$8 . Here we show, using laboratory laser-produced shock experiments, that, in the presence of a strong magnetic field, significant electron pre-heating is achieved. We demonstrate that the key mechanism in producing these energetic electrons is through the generation of lower-hybrid turbulence via shock-reflected ions. Our experimental results are analogous to many astrophysical systems, including the interaction of a comet with the solar wind 9 , a setting where electron acceleration via lower-hybrid waves is possible. (10.1038/s41567-018-0059-2)
  DOI : 10.1038/s41567-018-0059-2
• Comparison of Dimensionless Parameters in Astrophysical MHD Systems and in Laboratory Experiments
  
  • Kurbatov E. P.
  • Bisikalo D. V.
  • Starodubtsev M. V.
  • Ciardi Andrea
  • Fuchs J.
  • Solov'Ev A. A.
  • Burdonov K. F.
  • Revet G.
  • Chen S.
  Astronomicheskii Zhurnal / Astronomy Reports, MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica, 2018, 62, pp.483-491. Estimates of typical parameters of accretion flows in the representative intermediate polar EX Hydrae, the polar AM Herculis, and the "hot Jupiter" WASP-12b are presented. Dimensionless parameters of astrophysical systems are compared with those of laboratory experiments on laser ablation in magnetic fields. It is shown that laboratory simulations of astrophysical flows is possible in principle, provided that some adjustment to the magnetic field, plasma density, and plasma velocity are made. (10.1134/S1063772918080061)
  DOI : 10.1134/S1063772918080061
• Scintillators in High-Power Laser-Driven Experiments
  
  • Tarisien M.
  • Henares J.L.
  • Baccou C.
  • Bonnet T.
  • Boulay F.
  • Gobet F.
  • Gugiu M.
  • Hannachi F.
  • Kisyov S.
  • Manailescu C.
  • Meot V.
  • Negoita F.
  • Raymond X.
  • Revet G.
  • Tudor L.
  • Versteegen M.
  IEEE Transactions on Nuclear Science, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, 2018, 65 (8), pp.2216-2219. Nowadays, it is possible to accelerate bunches of particles in the interaction of ultrahigh intensity (UHI) laser pulses with matter. Electrons, protons, ions, and high-energy photon beams can be produced in experiments and reach kinetic energies close to hundreds of megaelectronvolts for protons and gigaelectronvolts for electrons and for the associated Bremsstrahlung photons. At these energies, these beams can induce a large variety of nuclear reactions, which can be detected and studied using y-ray spectroscopy techniques. At standard accelerator facilities, scintillator detectors are commonly used to perform prompt y-ray spectrometry studies. However, during laser-matter interactions, high fluxes of X-rays (mostly soft) are generated, which lead to instantaneous huge energy deposits (~1 μJ) in these scintillators. Depending on the laser characteristics (energy and pulse duration), the detector recovery time after these X-ray flashes can reach several milliseconds, which makes any prompt or “in beam” measurement impossible. The origin of this long-duration signal is investigated in the case of a LaBr3 crystal coupled to different photodetectors. While it was impossible using standard photomultiplier tubes to detect y-ray emissions before a few milliseconds after a laser shot, we could, using a hybrid photodiode, resolve single y-ray emission a few tens of microseconds after the laser shot. Furthermore, we have also shown that the LaBr 3 scintillator presents an unexpected long-lived light emission (afterglow). Directions are suggested for future studies in order to minimize the effects of this afterglow emission. (10.1109/tns.2018.2821906)
  DOI : 10.1109/tns.2018.2821906