Dr. Bedros Afeyan, Polymath Research Inc., Pleasanton CA

STUD Pulses to the Rescue: How to Adaptively Control Laser-Plasma Instabilities by Strongly Modulating the Laser Intensity Profile in Space and Time

Abstract
We will show various designs of STUD pulses (Spike Trains of Uneven Duration and Delay) meant to control the growth of parametric instabilities in laser-produced plasmas. The modulation of the electric field amplitude of a laser in space and time combining stochastic and deterministic elements will be shown to best stem the uncontrolled growth and runaway self-organizational tendency of plasmas exposed to large amplitude coherent radiation. Experimental tools for the creation and diagnosis of such pulses will be exposed as well as theory and simulation that explain why and how STUD pulses work.