Characterization of the spatiotemporal evolution of laser-generated plasmas

We characterize the time evolution of ion spatial distributions in a laser-produced plasma. Krypton ions are produced in strong, linearly and circularly polarized optical laser fields (10(14)-10(15) W/cm(2)). The Kr(+) ions are preferentially detected by resonant x-ray absorption. Using microfocused, tunable x rays from Argonne's Advanced Photon Source, we measure ion densities as a function of time with 10 mu m spatial resolution for times <= 50 ns. For plasma densities of the order of 10(14) cm(-3), we observe a systematic expansion of the ions outward from the laser focus. We find the expansion timescale to be independent of the plasma density though strongly dependent on the plasma shape and electron temperature. The former is defined by the laser focus, while the latter is controlled by the laser polarization state. We have developed a fluid description assuming a collisionless quasineutral plasma, which is modeled using a particle-in-cell approach. This simulation provides a quantitative description of the observed behavior and demonstrates the role of the very different electron temperatures produced by circularly and linearly polarized light. These results demonstrate the utility of this method as an in situ probe of the time and spatial evolution of laser-produced plasmas. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.2991339]