Abstract: A X-ray source, comprising a laser, of a pulse duration of at most 40 fs, instantaneous power of at least about 80 TW, a pulse repetition rate of at least 1 Hz; an optical compressor spectrally shaping the laser beam; focusing optics in the range between f#10 and f#15; and a gas target of electron density after ionization by the laser beam in a range between 1018 cm3 and 1019 cm?3; wherein the focusing optics focuses the laser beam in the gas target, and interaction of the focused laser beam with the gas target generates an X-ray beam, with a focused laser amplitude a0, given by a0=0.855 [IL (1018W/cm2)?L,2 (?m)]1/2, where IL is the on-target laser intensity and ?L is the laser wavelength, of at least 2 and a P/Pc ratio value of at least 20, with P being the beam power and Pc a critical power given by Pc=17 (nc/n) GW where n is the electron density and nc is a critical electron density at which the plasma acts as a mirror reflecting the laser beam.

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 X-ray source, comprising a laser, of a pulse duration of at most 40 fs, instantaneous power of at least about 80TW, a pulse repetition rate of at least 1 Hz; an optical compressor spectrally shaping the laser beam; focusing optics in the range between f#10 and f#15; and a gas target of electron density after ionization by the laser beam in a range between 1018 cm3 and 1019 cm?3; wherein the focusing optics focuses the laser beam in the gas target, and interaction of the focused laser beam with the gas target generates an X-ray beam, with a focused laser amplitude a0, given by a0=0.855 [IL (1018W/cm2)?L,2 (?m)]1/2, where IL is the on-target laser intensity and ?L is the laser wavelength, of at least 2 and a P/Pc ratio value of at least 20, with P being the beam power and Pc a critical power given by Pc=17 (nc/n) GW where n is the electron density and nc is a critical electron density at which the plasma acts as a mirror reflecting the laser beam.

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 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.