Abstract: A method and a system, the system, comprising a laser source, a ionization and acceleration unit, a separation unit, and a collecting unit, wherein the laser source comprises a large bandwidth laser delivering successive pulses of fixed central wavelength and bandwidth to a surface of a target positioned inside the ionization and acceleration unit, surface atoms of the target being ionized by the pulses, accelerated from the surface of the target to a kinetic energy in the range between 100 eV and 10 KeV, and focused to the separation unit, the separation unit separating received atoms into different ions species, and the collecting unit separately collecting the different ion species.

Abstract: In a general aspect, quantum electrodynamic (QED) interactions are generated using a parabolic transmission mirror. In some aspects, a system for generating a QED interaction includes an optical pulse generator and a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber includes a parabolic transmission mirror in an ultra-high vacuum region within the vacuum chamber. The parabolic transmission mirror is configured to produce the QED interaction in the ultra-high vacuum region based on an optical pulse from the optical pulse generator. The parabolic transmission mirror includes an optical inlet at a first end and an optical outlet at a second, opposite end. The parabolic transmission mirror also includes a parabolic reflective surface about an internal volume of the parabolic transmission mirror between the first and second ends. The parabolic reflective surface extends from the optical inlet to the optical outlet and defines a focal point outside the internal volume of the parabolic transmission mirror.

Abstract: A method and a system, the system, comprising a laser source, a ionization and acceleration unit, a separation unit, and a collecting unit, wherein the laser source comprises a large bandwidth laser delivering successive pulses of fixed central wavelength and bandwidth to a surface of a target positioned inside the ionization and acceleration unit, surface atoms of the target being ionized by the pulses, accelerated from the surface of the target to a kinetic energy in the range between 100 eV and 10 KeV, and focused to the separation unit, the separation unit separating received atoms into different ions species, and the collecting unit separately collecting the different ion species.

Abstract: A method and a system for laser pulse wavefront correction and focusing optimization for laser Wakefield interaction to accelerate electrons to high energy, and more generally for laser matter interaction where both far field and intermediate field optimization are important, allowing a robust wavefront correction and focusing optimization with a high-power laser system at its nominal laser pulse energy and laser pulse duration. The method comprises, after laser beam focusing by focusing optics, coupling an imaging unit to a wavefront sensor, thereby measuring the laser beam wavefront, and adjusting the measured laser beam wavefront to converge to a reference wavefront of the imaging unit using a spatial phase-modifying device.

Abstract: In a general aspect, quantum electrodynamic (QED) interactions are generated using a parabolic transmission mirror. In some aspects, a system for generating a QED interaction includes an optical pulse generator and a vacuum chamber. The vacuum chamber includes a parabolic transmission mirror in an ultra-high vacuum region within the vacuum chamber. The parabolic transmission mirror is configured to produce the QED interaction in the ultra-high vacuum region based on an optical pulse from the optical pulse generator. The parabolic transmission mirror includes an optical inlet at a first end and an optical outlet at a second, opposite end. The parabolic transmission mirror also includes a parabolic reflective surface about an internal volume of the parabolic transmission mirror between the first and second ends. The parabolic reflective surface extends from the optical inlet to the optical outlet and defines a focal point outside the internal volume of the parabolic transmission mirror.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a chirped optical pulse is compressed by operation of diffraction gratings and a dispersive mirror having a smooth reflective surface. In some aspects, a chirped pulse laser system includes a programmable optical dispersive filter (PODF) operable to modify a spectral phase of optical pulses and a pulse compressor that receives an optical pulse based on an output of the PODF. The pulse compressor includes optical elements in a vacuum chamber. The optical elements define an optical path through the pulse compressor, and are arranged to disperse the optical pulse in the optical path. The optical elements include diffraction gratings and a dispersive mirror, which has a smooth reflective surface that defines a portion of the optical path.

Abstract: A method and a system for laser pulse wavefront correction and focusing optimization for laser Wakefield interaction to accelerate electrons to high energy, and more generally for laser matter interaction where both far field and intermediate field optimization are important, allowing a robust wavefront correction and focusing optimization with a high-power laser system at its nominal laser pulse energy and laser pulse duration. The method comprises, after laser beam focusing by focusing optics, coupling an imaging unit to a wavefront sensor, thereby measuring the laser beam wavefront, and adjusting the measured laser beam wavefront to converge to a reference wavefront of the imaging unit using a spatial phase-modifying device.

Abstract: In a general aspect, a chirped optical pulse is compressed by operation of diffraction gratings and a dispersive mirror having a smooth reflective surface. In some aspects, a chirped pulse laser system includes a programmable optical dispersive filter (PODF) operable to modify a spectral phase of optical pulses and a pulse compressor that receives an optical pulse based on an output of the PODF. The pulse compressor includes optical elements in a vacuum chamber. The optical elements define an optical path through the pulse compressor, and are arranged to disperse the optical pulse in the optical path. The optical elements include diffraction gratings and a dispersive mirror, which has a smooth reflective surface that defines a portion of the optical path.

Abstract: A method comprising using a pulse shaper in the spectral domain to generate multiple-color pulses directly at the output of the laser amplifier. The delay can thus be controlled directly in the spectral domain and there is no need for an optical delay line. The method allows reducing the number of optical components and insures insensitivity to alignment, vibrations and turbulence on long distance propagation and filamentation, particularly in air. The method allows programmable and tunable interaction, since the pulse shaper is able to control the laser spectral amplitude and phase.

Abstract: A method for generating an ultrashort charged particle beam, comprising creating a high intensity longitudinal E-field by shaping and tightly focusing, in an on-axis geometry, a substantially radially polarized laser beam, and using the high intensity longitudinal E-field for interaction with a medium to accelerate charged particles.

Abstract: A method comprising using a pulse shaper in the spectral domain to generate multiple-color pulses directly at the output of the laser amplifier. The delay can thus be controlled directly in the spectral domain and there is no need for an optical delay line. The method allows reducing the number of optical components and insures insensitivity to alignment, vibrations and turbulence on long distance propagation and filamentation, particularly in air. The method allows programmable and tunable interaction, since the pulse shaper is able to control the laser spectral amplitude and phase.