Generation and characterization of the highest laser intensities (10(22) W/cm2).
We generated a record peak intensity of 0.7 x 10(22) W/cm2 by focusing a 45-TW laser beam with an f/0.6 off-axis paraboloid. The aberrations of the paraboloid and the low-energy reference laser beam were measured and corrected, and a focal spot size of 0.8 microm was achieved. It is shown that the peak intensity can be increased to 1.0 x 10(22) W/cm2 by correction of the wave front of a 45-TW beam relative to the reference beam. The phase and amplitude measurement provides for an efficient full characterization of the focal field.
Bahk
S W
SW
FOCUS Center and Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2099, USA. swbahk@engin.umich.edu
Rousseau
P
P
Planchon
T A
TA
Chvykov
V
V
Kalintchenko
G
G
Maksimchuk
A
A
Mourou
G A
GA
Yanovsky
V
V