Commissioning experiments on the 100 TW Sandia laser

Abstract

We present results from laser-target interaction experiments performed within the 100 TW facility at Sandia National Laboratory. A series of K-alpha images of 25μm thick copper foils reveal an average K-alpha spot diameter of ∼70±10μm and a pointing error of less than 50μm in both the vertical and horizontal directions. 2 omega optical probe pulse shadowgraphy images show front surface plasma growth and transverse focal structure from self-emission. Stacks of radiochromic film (RCF) positioned along the rear normal to the Cu foil indicate an average peak proton energy of 8±2 MeV.