3 mg/cc Density foam made in-situ for experiments on High Energy lasers (a) laser target; (b & c) SEM of Foam inside target

High energy laser interacting with a target

Small scale in-situ polymerisation techniques are used to produce size foam-filled laser targets using photo-initiated monomers. These small targets containing low density foams are utilised in high energy laser experiments carried out in a number of laboratories throughout the world. Experiments are designed to study the interaction of high energy lasers with low density materials. The results from these high energy laser physics experiments are important first step into the production of future fusion energy. Interaction of high energy laser with matter produces plasma which could be utilised in future fusion energy plants, with all the benefits and none of the harmful by-products of the fission reactors. Fusion is the energy produced by the sun. Foam-filled targets produced for high energy laser physics experiments are highly specialised with rigorous specifications on density, uniformity, composition and structural properties.

Collaboration with international laboratories include: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (USA), Los Alamos National Laboratory (USA), University of Milan (Italy), STFC (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Central Laser Facility, UK), University of Rochester (Laboratory for Laser Energetics, USA), University of Prague (Czech Republic), LULI polytechnique (France) and Lebedev Institute of Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow). I am currently involved in research and development of low density polymeric (and co-polymeric) foams, containing a high percentage of pure elements and halogens for the experiments scheduled in 2012 on the next generation of high energy lasers in UK (project ORION) as well as other high energy laser experiments globally.

SELECTED RECENT PUBLICATIONS

1. Characterization of High-Intensity Laser Propagation in the Relativistic Transparent Regime through Measurements of Energetic Proton Beams; Willingale, L; Nagel, SR; Thomas, AGR, Nazarov, W et al., Physical Review Letters Volume: 102, Issues:12, Article Number: 125002 , 2009
2. Astrophysical jet experiments; Gregory, CD; Loupias, B; Waugh, J, Nazarov, W, et al., 35th European-Physical-Society Conference on Plasma Physics, Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion Volume: 50 Issue: 12, Article Number: 124039, 2008
3. Laser-driven proton beams: Acceleration mechanism, beam optimization, and radiographic applications; Borghesi, M; Cecchetti, CA; Toncian, T, Nazarov, W, et al., IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Pages: 1833-1842, 2008
4. Supersonic-jet experiments using a high-energy laser; Loupias, B; Koenig, M; Falize, E, Nazarov, W, et al. Physical Review Letters Volume: 99 Issue: 26 Article Number: 265001, 2007