An overview of short-pulse laser research at Los Alamos

Summary form only given. Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) has a diverse and cutting-edge experimental research program using short-pulse lasers. This program applies state of the art technologies in modeling and supercomputing, material science and target fabrication, diagnostics and experimental techniques, laser science, and laser facilities ranging from the small to the large scale. Some of these are on-site facilities, such as the Trident laser facility and the Roadrunner supercomputer, or off-site facilities, such as Omega and Omega EP. This research involves the intersection and cooperation of several scientific areas and disciplines, such as relativistic laser-matter interactions, advanced particle accelerator development, material science, material dynamics, the properties of warm-dense matter, fusion fast ignition, the development of X-ray sources, etc. This research serves many programs, sponsors and applications such as inertial fusion energy, defense research and threat reduction. Much of this research is carried out in collaboration with many institutions worldwide. This talk summarizes the program with an emphasis on its multidisciplinary nature, summarizes its many customers with an emphasis on the synergy of these capabilities to meet their needs, and highlights selected recent results with an emphasis on their scientific significance. Finally, this talk explains how these capabilities and their utility are being evaluated for the planned LANL signature experimental facility, MaPJE - matter-radiation interactions in extremes.