Diagnostic Techniques for Laser-plasma Experiments

Dear Colleagues,

Laser-plasma physics is a rapidly expanding research area, partially because of the fast evolution of high-power laser technology that has taken place over the last two decades. A new era of ultra-short PW lasers is now approaching, paving the way to new experimental possibilities which only become possible as a result of the simultaneous availability of ultra-high laser intensities and ultra-short pulse durations. Several civil and technological applications might benefit from laser-generated, relativistic plasmas, such as laser fusion, laboratory astrophysics, particle acceleration, material science, and fundamental physics. Laser-plasma diagnostic techniques are fundamental to support experimental campaigns where the extreme experimental conditions open new challenges. The short duration and fast dynamic of laser-driven plasmas (relevant time scales spanning from the fs to the ns range) forbid any direct measurement of plasma properties, which have to be determined by probing the sample or by analyzing its self-emission. Reducing time acquisition and increasing the sensitivity of dedicated diagnostic is fundamental to accessing the first moment laser-plasma dynamic, which is essential to understand the basic physical processes.

In this Special Issue, a review of the relevant diagnostic techniques in the field is presented together with new challenges and new possible solutions.

Dr. Luca Volpe
Prof. Dr. Malte C. Kaluza
Guest Editors

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