Lasers Induced Plasmas And Applications

This book discusses the physics of plasma initiation and reviews the features of dissipating, propagating plasmas. It deals with advances in diagnostics for high-energy, laser-fusion plasmas. The book reviews the basic physical processes, plasma characteristics of the "continuous optical discharge".

The series of books discusses the physics of laser and matter interaction, fluid dynamics of high-temperature and high-density compressible plasma, and kinetic phenomena and particle dynamics in laser-produced plasma. The book (Vol.1) gives the physics of intense-laser absorption in matter and/or plasma in non-relativistic and relativistic laser-intensity regime. In many cases, it is explained with clear images of physics so that an intuitive understanding of individual physics is possible for non-specialists. For intense-laser of 1013-16 W/cm2, the laser energy is mainly absorbed via collisional process, where the oscillation energy is converted to thermal energy by non-adiabatic Coulomb collision with the ions. Collisionless interactions with the collective modes in plasma are also described. The main topics are the interaction of ultra-intense laser and plasma for the intensity near and over 1018W/cm2. In such regime, relativistic dynamics become essential. A new physics appears due to the relativistic effects, such as mass correction, relativistic nonlinear force, chaos physics of particle motions, and so on. The book provides clearly the theoretical base for challenging the laser-plasma interaction physics in the wide range of power lasers. It is suitable as a textbook for upper-undergraduate and graduate students as well as for readers who want to understand the whole physics structure about what happen when an intense-laser irradiates any materials including solids, gas etc. Explaining the physics intuitively without complicated mathematics, it is also a valuable resource for engineering students and researchers as well as for self-study.

Recent advances in the development of lasers with more energy, power, and brightness have opened up new possibilities for exciting applications. Applications of Laser-Plasma Interactions reviews the current status of high power laser applications. The book first explores the science and technology behind the ignition and burn of imploded fusion fue

The OSA topical meetings that received support under this grant provided a forum for researchers in various specialty areas to meet and share ideas and technology in their fields. Following are the meetings that were supported by this grant: ̂Advanced Solid State Lasers - This meeting provided a forum for leading edge results in the fields of solid state lasers, laser materials, nonlinear optical materials and high power diode lasers. ̂Laser Applications to Chemical and Environmental Analysis - This meeting presented and discussed advances in the use of lasers for chemical analysis and environmental monitoring. ̂Biomedical Optics - This meeting was composed of three meetings that offered a unique venue to present and discuss recent research activities and developments in the field of lasers and optics in biomedicine. ̂Ultrafast Phenomena - This meeting brought together a multidisciplinary group sharing a common interest in the generation of ultrashort pulses in the picosecond, femtosecond, and attosecond regimes and their application to studies of ultrafast phenomena in physics, chemistry, biology, material sciences and electronics. ̂Nonlinear Optics%- This meeting provided and international forum for discussion of all aspects of nonlinear optics, including new phenomena, novel devices, advanced materials and applications. ̂Nonlinear Guided Waves and their Applications - This meeting emphasized on development of new ideas and novel techniques in the areas of materials, fabrication, devices , applications and nonlinear theory. ̂Laser Induced Plasma Spectroscopy and Applications - This Meetings focused on major advances in LIBS fundamentals, instrumentation and applications and featured new commercial laboratory LIBS systems and advanced components, as well as field portable systems.

This book examines the theory and applications of laser-induced plasmas. Topics discussed include the application of laser-induced plasma expansion models for thin film deposition; cluster-containing plasma fumes for high-order harmonic generation laser radiation; pulsed laser deposition of nanocrystalline V2O5 thin films; nanosecond and femtosecond laser ablation of TeO2 crystals; resonant harmonic generation of short pulse laser in plasma and the influence of the heterogeneous nature of laser ablation on near-surface plasma formation and propagation.