High intensity physics with a table-top 20 TW laser system

The purpose of this project was to develop a high peak power laser system (100 TW) and begin initial high intensity experiments that exploit its short pulse width (30 fs) and high repetition rate (1 - 10 Hz). Such a laser system presents unique capabilities such as permitting ultrafast time-resolved plasma physics experiments by probing the plasma with the 30 fs laser pulse. The high repetition rate also allows detailed, systematic studies of phenomena, not possible with large, single shot laser systems. During the previous year we have made good progress on the development of the laser. We have demonstrated the production of pulses up to the 5 TW level at 10 Hz and have installed an additional amplifier to take the system to 20 TW. We have pulse compressed the pulses to 30 fs and have developed a number of diagnostics to characterize the laser prepulse. During this year we have also activated a target chamber to begin plasma physics experiments in gas jet targets