Application of harmonics imaging to focal spot measurements of the “PETAL” laser

Abstract

By using numerical simulations and experimental campaigns on a small-scale laser facility, the concept of the focal spot imaging on harmonics of laser frequency is developed and implemented on the Laser MegaJoule (LMJ)/PETawatt Aquitaine Laser (PETAL) facility. The Two/Three ω Imaging System was activated and validated during the first 2017–2019 interaction campaigns of PETAL on the LMJ. It provides major information on focal spot characteristics on a target. Such an approach could be easily applied to any high-intensity facility in the relativistic intensity regime (>1018 W cm−2).