昆吾装置宽带激光等离子体相互作用实验进展

Research progress of broadband laser-plasma interaction experiments on Kunwu laser facility

  • 摘要: 直接驱动(DD)惯性约束聚变(ICF)中的激光等离子体不稳定性(LPI)会引发激光散射并产生超热电子产生,造成激光能量损失与靶丸预热,降低辐照均匀性与内爆性能,是制约聚变点火性能提升的核心难题。在相关LPI抑制技术研究中,宽带低相干激光技术备受关注。本文综述了近年来基于上海激光等离子体研究所“昆吾”低相干宽带激光装置的等离子体物理实验研究进展。研究显示,与传统窄带激光相比,宽带激光对背向SBS具有显著的抑制效果;对于背向SRS,低光强区间同样具有抑制效果。实验也观测到功率密度较高时,宽带激光实验中超热电子产生的增强现象。结果表明宽带激光作为一种新的驱动光源,与传统窄带激光驱动具有差异,验证了宽带激光在提升激光靶耦合效率方面的潜力,但中等带宽下SRS侧向增强和超热电子增强问题仍需解决。因此,结合实验,利用理论模拟描述宽带激光,对于更好地理解宽带激光物理本质、促进宽带激光的应用具有重要的意义。

     

    Abstract: Laser-plasma instabilities (LPI) in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion (DD-ICF) give rise to laser scattering and hot-electron generation. These detrimental effects induce laser energy dissipation, target preheat, degraded irradiation uniformity and impaired implosion performance, posing a fundamental bottleneck for the advancement of fusion ignition performance. As a promising candidate for mitigating LPI-related parametric processes, broadband low-coherence laser technology has attracted intensive research efforts over recent years. This paper reviews the recent progress of plasma physics experiments implemented on the Kunwu low-coherence broadband laser facility at the Shanghai Institute of Laser Plasma, China Academy of Engineering Physics. Experimental observations demonstrate that broadband lasers deliver remarkable suppression on backward stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in comparison with conventional narrowband lasers. Effective mitigation of backward stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) is also achieved at low laser power densities. Nevertheless, an evident enhancement of hot-electron emission is detected under high-power-density irradiation. The distinct physical behaviors between broadband and narrowband laser drivers are clearly identified. Although the capability of broadband lasers to improve laser-target coupling efficiency has been experimentally validated, two critical issues associated with moderate bandwidth, namely the amplification of side-scattered SRS and excessive hot-electron production, remain unresolved. Consequently, synergistic research combining experimental characterization with theoretical and numerical modeling is essential to fully uncover the underlying physics of broadband lasers and promote their practical deployment in ICF facilities.

     

/

返回文章
返回