Extreme Light Infrastructure
ELI
Autumn 2008 NuPECC
Glasgow
3-4/10/2008
Gérard A. MOUROU
Laboratoire d’Optique Appliquée – LOA
ENSTA – Ecole Polytechnique – CNRS
PALAISEAU, France
gerard.mourou@ensta.fr
The different Epochs of Laser
2010
Physics
1990
1960
Coulombic Epoch
e
m 2 e5
Ec  2  4
rb
RelativisticEpoch
m 0 c 2 h
ER 

e
e
c
ELI Nonlinear QED
and Epoch
2m 0 c
ES 
e
C
2
“Optics Horizon”
This field does not seem to have
natural limits, only horizon.
Why should we build an Extreme
Light
Infrastructure?
Science (1 july 2005)
“100 questions spanning the science…”
•
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•
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1) Is ours the only universe?
2) What drove cosmic inflation?
3) When and how did the first stars and galaxies form?
4) Where do ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays come from?
5) What powers quasars?
6) What is the nature of black holes?
7) Why is there more matter than antimatter?
8) Does the proton decay?
9)What is the nature of gravity?
10) Why is time different from other dimensions?
11) Are there smaller building blocks than quarks?
12) Are neutrinos their own antiparticles?
13) Is there a unified theory explaining all correlated electron systems?
14) What is the most powerful laser researchers can build? Theorists say an
intense enough laser field would rip photons into electron-positron pairs, dousing
the beam. But no one knows whether it's possible to reach that point.
15) Can researchers make a perfect optical lens?
16) Is it possible to create magnetic semiconductors that work at room
temperature?
Contents
ELI’s Bricks
• The Peak Power-Pulse Duration conjecture
• Relativistic Rectification(wake-field) the key to High energy electron beam
• Generation of Coherent x and -ray, by Coherent Thomson, radiation
reaction, X-Ray laser, …
• Source of attosecond photon and electron pulses
ELI’s Science: Study of the structure of matter from atoms to vacuum
Peak Power -Pulse Duration
Conjecture
1) To get high peak power you must
decrease the pulse duration.
2) To get short pulses you must increase
the intensity
Laser Pulse Duration vs. Intensity
Q-Switch, Dye
I=kW/cm2
Modelocking, Dye
I=MW/cm2
Mode-Locking KLM
I=GW/cm2
MPI
I>1013W/cm2
Relativistic and Ultra R
Atto, zepto….?
Scalable Isolated Attosecond Pulses
Duration,
t (as)
2D: a=3, 200as
optimal ratio: a0/n0=2,
or exponential gradient
due to wcr=w0a-1/2
n0= n/ncr
1019W/cm2
(3 laser)
tas)=600/a0
1D PIC simulations in
boosted frame
Amplitude, a
I=1022W/cm2
(Hercules)
NL Optics
Relativistic Compression
Ultra Relativistic
Relativistic
EQ=mpc2
Ultra-relativistic intensity is
defined with respect to the proton
EQ=mpc2, intensity~1024W/cm2
The ELI’s Scientific Goal:
from the atom to the Vacuum Structure
The advent of ultra-intense laser light pulses
(ELI) reaching within a decade towards a
critical field strength will allow us to probe the
Vacuum in a new way, and at a new
"macroscopic" scale.
Relativistic Optics
Relativistic Optics

v

F  qE    B
c


a)Classical optics v<<c,
a0<<1, a0>>a02
eA 0 eE 0 
a0 

2
mc
mc 2
b) Relativistic optics v~c
a0>>1, a0<<a02
x~ao
z~ao2
Relativistic Rectification
(Wake-Field Tajima,

Es
Dawson)
+
-
v

FBz  q  B
c

1) v  B pushes the electrons.
2) The charge separation generates an electrostatic
longitudinal field. (Tajima and Dawson: Wake Fields or
cmow p
Snow Plough)
E s
 4mo c 2 ne
3) The electrostatic field
e
E s E L
Relativistic Rectification
-Ultrahigh Intensity Laser is associated with Extremely large E field.
E  Z *I
2
L
Medium Impedance
0
L
Laser Intensity
I L  1018W / cm 2
EL  2 TV / m
I L  1023W / cm2
EL  .6 PV / m (0.6 1015V / m)
Laser Acceleration:
At 1023W/cm2 , E= 0.6PV/m, it is SLAC (50GeV, 3km long) on
10mm The size of the Fermi accelerator will only be one meter
(PeV accelerator that will go around the globe, based on
conventional technology).
Relativistic Microelectronics
2fs
The Dream Beam
J. Faure et al., C. Geddes et al., S. Mangles et al. ,
in Nature 30 septembre 2004
e-beam
Tunable monoenergetic bunches
V. Malka and J. Faure
Zinj=225 μm
pump injection
Zinj=125 μm
late injection
Zinj=25 μm
pump injection
Zinj=-75 μm
Zinj=-175 μm
Zinj=-275 μm
middle injection
pump injection
Zinj=-375 μm
early injection
Front and back acceleration mechanisms
Peak energy scales as : EM ~
(IL×)1/2
The Ultra relativistic:Relativistic Ions
Non relativistic ions
Photons
Ep ~
C
Vp ~0
Relativistic ions >1024
Photons
Vp ~C
Ep ~ I
C
1/2
I
High Energy Radiation
Radiation
• Betatron oscillation
• Radiation reaction
• X-ray laser
The structure of the ion cavity
Longitudinal acceleration
+++++++
++++++++++
+++++++++++
++++++++++
+++++++
Ex
Transverse oscillation: Betatron oscillation
Frap 
+++++++
++++++++++
+++++++++++
++++++++++
+++++++
Radiation Reaction: Compton-Thomson Cooling
N. Naumova, I, Sokolov
c
c
a) Charge separation.
E-field Creation
E
c
b)e- move backwards, scattered on
the incoming field, cooling the e-

E
Attosecond Generation
from
Overdense plasma
Relativistic Self-focusing:
w 2p
  1
 0w 2
(a)

where
 0  1 a0
A.G.Litvak (1969), C.Max,
J.Arons, A.B.Langdon
(1974)
Refraction
(b)
Reflection
2
?
2-D PIC simulation

1
2

1.0
0.8
0.6
1
0.4
0.2
0.0
-0.2
-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
-1.0
2
2-D PIC simulation
Scalable Isolated Attosecond Pulses
Duration,
t (as)
2D: a=3, 200as
optimal ratio: a0/n0=2,
or exponential gradient
due to wcr=w0a-1/2
n0= n/ncr
1019W/cm2
(3 laser)
tas)=600/a0
1D PIC simulations in
boosted frame
Amplitude, a
I=1022W/cm2
(Hercules)
NL Optics
Relativistic Compression
Ultra Relativistic
Relativistic
EQ=mpc2
Ultra-relativistic intensity is
defined with respect to the proton
EQ=mpc2, intensity~1024W/cm2
Attosecond Generation
(electron)
Attosecond Electron Bunches
a0=10, t=15fs, f/1, n0=25ncr
Attosecond pulse train
25÷30 MeV
Attosecond
bunch train
N. Naumova, I. Sokolov, J. Nees, A. Maksimchuk, V. Yanovsky, and G. Mourou,
Attosecond Electron Bunches, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 195003 (2004).
Coherent Thomson Scattering
a0=10, t=15fs, f/1, n0=25ncr
1.0
0.8
0.6
Attosecond pulse train
0.4
1.0
h
0.8
0.2
0.6
0.0
0.4
0.2
-0.2
0
40
0.0
-0.4
0
30
2
-0.
4
-0.
-0.6
0
20
6
-0.
-0.8
25÷30 MeV
h
0
10
8
-0.
-1.0
-1.
0
0
300 400
100 200
0
Attosecond
bunch train
N. Naumova, I. Sokolov, J. Nees, A. Maksimchuk, V. Yanovsky, and G. Mourou,
Attosecond Electron Bunches, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 195003 (2004).
ELI: A Unique Infrastructure that
offers simultaneously
• Ultra high Intensity ~1026W/cm2
• High Energy particles ~100GeV
• High Fluxes of X and  rays
• With femtosecond time structures
• Highly synchronized
(We could possibly get beams equivalent to
1036 W/cm2)
Nuclear Physics
Nuclear Physics
• Exploring the Structure of the Nucleon;
Ralph Kaiser
• Gamma ray Spectroscopy Study of
Exotic Nuclei;
Mike Bentley
• Relativistic Heavy ions; Peter Jones
Possibilité de fission nucléaire par impulsion laser
Fission d’uranium 238 : réacteurs sous critiques?
T. Cowan et al. LLNL 1999, Phys. News, USA (238U)
In experiments conducted recently at Lawrence Livemore National Lab, an
intense laser beam (from the Petawatt laser, the most powerful in the world)
strikes a gold foil (backed with a layer of lead). This results in (1) the highest
energy electrons (up to 100 MeV) ever to emerge from a laser-solid interaction, (2)
the first laser-induced fission, and (3) the first creation of antimatter (positrons)
using lasers. (Tom Cowan LLNL 1999)
238U
= matière fertile
0,7% 238U dans U naturel
Bilan énergétique? :
Fission d’uranium 238 =
200MeV
Section efficace?
Rendement?
Transmutation des déchets : fission par impulsion laser
Transmutation de l’iode 129 (fission)
* K. Ledingham et al. J. Phys. D : Appl. Phys. 36, L79 (2003), UK
•JRC Karlsruhe, Univ. Jena, Univ. Strathclyde, Imperial College,
Rutherford Appleton Lab.
Laser : 1020W/cm2  champ élect. 1011V/cm  champ mag. 105T
Impulsion : plasma  électrons 1,6 . 1024m/s2 : e- <100MeV
 gamma par freinage dans Pb ou Ta <10MeV
 fission : 129I (15,7 . 106ans)  128I (25mn)
énergie
J
durée
fs
puissance
TW
Nd:verr
e
Vulcan
75
1 000
100
Ti:Saph
ire
Jena loa
0,5
80
15
laser
Intensité
W/cm2
# tirs
# fissions
1019
2/h
103/s
1020
10/s
104/s
Introduction
TRANSMUTATION
High-resolution -Spectroscopy in hyperdeformed
actinide nuclei
Motivation:
 explore the multiple-humped potential energy landscape
of hyperdeformed heavy actinide nuclei with unprecedented resolution
Experimental approach:
 photofission (,f) using brilliant photon beams of ~3-10 MeV
 individually resolve resonances in prompt fission cross section
 laser-generated high-energy photon flux exceeds conventional
facilities by ~ 104-108
Example:
238U(,f):
hyperdeformed 3rd potential
minimum has not yet been
studied at all
Nuclear transitions and parity-violating
meson-nucleon coupling
Motivation:
 study mirror asymmetries in the nuclear resonance
fluorescence process (NRF):
parity non-conservation as indication of fundamental
role of exchange processes of weakly interacting
bosons in nucleon-nucleon interaction
Experimental approach:
 use ultra-brilliant, (circular) polarized,
monochromatic  ray beams (typ.: 102-103 keV)
 switch polarization  measure NRF  asymmetry
Example: 19F (parity doublet: E=109.9 keV)
 ARL  
 L  R
 L  R
Nonlinear QED
NL Optics
Relativistic Compression
Ultra Relativistic
Relativistic
EQ=mpc2
Ultra-relativistic intensity is
defined with respect to the proton
EQ=mpc2, intensity~1024W/cm2
Laser-induced Nonlinear QED
G. Mourou, S. Bulanov, T. Tajima Review of Modern Physics (2006)
e  w e  e e
e
'


GeV electrons
1023W/cm2
e+
You can enhance the laser field by the
electron factor.
1023W/cm2
Laser-induced Nonlinear QED
G. Mourou, S. Bulanov, T. Tajima Review of Modern Physics (2006)
 w  e  e

GeV electrons
1023W/cm2

e-
-photon
Gas Jet
x
4E0 w 0
E0
x
x 1
m2c4
for E0  10GeV and w 0  1.5eV x  .24
e+
wm 
and w m  7.GeV
1023 cm2
1023W/cm2
Ultra-high Intensity
General Relativity
and Black Holes
Laboratory Black Hole
T. Tajima and G. Mourou Review of Modern Physics
Equivalent to be near
a Black Hole of
Dimension?
Temperature?
Is Optics in General
Relativity?
GM
Using the gravitational shift near a black hole:
1  laser
BH radius Rs 
a 0 2
Rsc
2
1
ae
kT 
2c
a 0  1  Rs   laser 
1mm
a 0  10 6  R s  .01A ~  c
As. we increase a0 the Swartzschild radius can become equal
to the Compton wavelength.
Optics and General Relativity:
Hawking Radiation
h
In order to have Hawking radiation
You need the gravitational field
strong enough to break pairs
gm 0  c  2m 0 c 2
c
Rs
Rs   c
BH
e+
e-

6
Rs 
 c  a 0  10
2  a0
I  10 30 W / cm 2
Finite Horizon and extradimensions
The distance to finite horizon is
c2
 1
d

ae 2 a0
a
d
4  nD Gauss Law
for Planck distance
M ~ rn  M
n
2
P4
rn ~ 10
30
 17
n
n2
P4n
cm
“gravitational”
leakage
N. Arkani-Hamed et al. (1999)
Up to n=4 extra-dimensions could be
tested.
T. Tajima phone # 81 90 34 96 64 21
nD
ELI: from the Atomic Structure to
the Vacuum Structure
Vacuum structure
The Extreme Light Infrastructure
exploded view
100 m
ELI Infrastructure
Thank you
Become an ELI enthusiast
You can register @
WWW.eli-laser.eu
Eli@eli-laser.eu
Control & 4D imaging of
valence & core electrons with sub-atomic resolution
attosecond
xuv / sxr
pulse
Excitation
Petawatt
Field
Synthesizer
sub-fs
electron
bunch
5-10 MeV
Probe
0.1-1 GeV
Probe
sub-fs x-ray
pulse
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität
Jena, Germany
4D imaging of electronic
motion in atoms,
molecules and solids
by means of attosecond
electron or X-ray
diffraction
The ELI facilty could be used
to produce « real » X-ray lasers
Shorter wavelengths lasers
than never obtained : < nm range
How : investigate new schemes
- inner-shell of heavy ions
- transitions in nuclear transitions
HHG and Subfemtosecond Pulses from Surfaces
of Overdense Plasmas
S.V. Bulanov, Naumova N M and Pegoraro F, Phys. Plasmas
1 745(1994)
D. Von der linde et al Phys. Rev. A52 R 25, 1995
L. Plaja et al. JOSA B, 15, 1904 (1998)
S. Gordienko et al PRL 93, 115002 (2004)
N.M. Naumova et.al., PRL 92, 063902 (2004)
Tsakiris, G., et al., New Journal of Physics, 8, 19 (2006)
Reflected radiation spectra:
the slow power-law decay
1D simulation
a0=20
a0=10
a0=5
I~w8/3
1012
Intensity, a.u.
1010
108
106
104
102
1
10
100
1000
w/w0
Gordienko, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 2004
The Gaussian laser pulse a=a0exp[-(t/t)2]cosw0t is incident onto an overdense
plasma layer with n=30nc.
The color lines correspond to laser amplitudes a0=5,10,20.
The broken line marks the analytical scaling I~w-8/3.
Possibility to produce zeptosecond pulses!!!
Multi-keV Harmonics
B. Dromey, M. Zepf et. al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 085001 (2007)
Relativistic High Harmonics:
Train of Attosecond Pulses
Yet some applications require single attosecond pulses!
Can we extract one pulse from the train?
Two large Laser Infrastructures Have Been
Selected to be on the ESFRI (European
Strategic Forum on Research Infrastructures)
Roadmap
•a - HIPER, civilian laser fusion research (using the
“fast ignition scheme”) and all applications of ultra
high energy laser
•b - ELI, reaching highest intensities (Exawatt) and
applications
ELI has been the first Infrastructure launched by
Brussels November 1st 2007
Towards the Critical Field
For I=1022W/cm2 a02 =104
The pulse duration t00/a0 ~ 6as
The wavelength ~ /1000
The Focal volume decreases ~ 10-8
The Efficiency~ 10%
Intensity I=1022W/cm2
I=1028W/cm2
Extreme Light Infrastructure
ELI
ELI Workshop on
“Fundamental Physics with UltraHigh Fields”
Frauenworth
Sept.28-Oct.2,2008
Gérard A. MOUROU
Laboratoire d’Optique Appliquée – LOA
ENSTA – Ecole Polytechnique – CNRS
PALAISEAU, France
gerard.mourou@ensta.fr