title: Characterizing plasma mirrors near breakdown.
abstract: Experiments dedicated to the characterization of plasma mirrors with a high energy, single shot short-pulse laser were performed at the 100 TW target area of the Z-Backlighter Facility at Sandia National Laboratories. A suite of beam diagnostics was used to characterize a high energy laser pulse with a large aperture through focus imaging setup. By varying the fluence on the plasma mirror around the plasma ignition threshold, critical performance parameters were determined and a more detailed understanding of the way in which a plasma mirror works could be deduced. It was found, that very subtle variations in the laser near field profile will have strong effects on the reflected pulse if the maximum fluence on the plasma mirror approaches the plasma ignition threshold.
authors.affiliation: Sandia National Laboratories, Z-Backlighter Facility, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185-1193, USA. mgeisse@sandia.gov
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geissel
authors.forename: Marius S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Schollmeier
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kimmel
authors.forename: Patrick K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Rambo
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Briggs W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Atherton
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brambrink