Ultrashort laser pulse interaction with overdense plasmas [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Mirela Cerchez

Ultrashort laser pulse interaction withoverdense plasmasInaugural-Dissertationzur Erlangung des Doktorgradesder Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftichen Fakultätder Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorfvorgelegt vonMirela Cerchezaus Tecuci (RO)Düsseldorf, Dezember 2008Aus dem Institut für Laser- und Plasmaphysikder Heinrich-Heine-Universität DüsseldorfGedruckt mit der Genehmigung derMathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät derHeinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf1. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. O. Willi2. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. A. PukhovTag der mündlichen Prüfung: 30.01.2009AbstractWith the recent developments of intense, ultrashort laser pulses rapidly heatedmatter under extreme conditions can now be produced and investigated. Theseinteraction processes are characterized by unique properties as the laser energy isabsorbed on a femtosecond time scale before significant hydrodynamic expansion ofthe plasma can occur. Hence the laser energy is transferred to matter at densitiesclose to solid. In this thesis, experimental studies concentrated on investigationsof the physical properties of overdense plasmas characterized by steep density gra-dients. High-contrast, few-cycle laser pulses were focused onto solid target up to16 2an average intensity of ≈ 5× 10 W/cm . The fundamental process of the laserenergy transfer was studied using laser absorption measurements and XUV plasmaspectroscopy.