为了消除激光诱导击穿光谱技术（laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy，LIBS）中的自吸收效应，提高元素定量分析的精确度，同时满足工业中便捷分析元素的要求，需将自吸收免疫激光诱导击穿光谱技术（self-absorption free laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy，SAF-LIBS）的装置小型化。本文提出了一项新型的高重频声光门控SAF-LIBS定量分析技术，使用高重频激光器产生准连续的等离子体以增强光谱强度，并将声光调制器（acousto-optic modulator，AOM）作为门控开关，从而使微型CCD光谱仪和AOM能够代替传统大型SAF-LIBS装置中的像增强探测器（intensified charge coupled device，ICCD）和中阶梯型光栅光谱仪，实现自吸收免疫的同时缩小了装置的体积，降低了装置的成本。将该系统参数进行优化选择后，对样品中的Al元素进行了定量分析和预测。实验结果表明，等离子体的特性受激光重复频率的影响进而会影响光谱信号的强度。在1 ~ 50 kHz激光重复频率范围内，Al I 394.4 nm和Al I 396.15 nm的双线强度先增强后减弱，确定最佳的激光重复频率为10 kHz。在不同的光纤采集角度下，Al的双线强度比随延迟时间的增加而减小，在45°处信噪比最高，且在一定的积分时间下，最佳光学薄时间t_ot为426 ns。在激光重复频率为10 kHz、光纤采集角为45°、延迟时间为400 ns的条件下，对Al元素进行定量分析和预测结果表明，Al元素定标曲线的线性度R²为0.982，平均绝对测量误差相对于单一LIBS的0.8%可以降低至0.18%。定量分析结果与传统大型SAF-LIBS装置的测量精度相持平。因此本高重频声光门控SAF-LIBS装置不仅有效地屏蔽了光学厚等离子体中的连续背景辐射和谱线加宽，同时具备小型化、低成本、高可靠性的优点，有助于推动SAF-LIBS技术由实验室走向工业应用。

We present detailed characterization of laser-driven fusion and neutron production ( $\sim {10}^5$ /second) using 8 mJ, 40 fs laser pulses on a thin (<1 μm) D ${}_2$ O liquid sheet employing a measurement suite. At relativistic intensity ( $\sim 5\times {10}^{18}$ W/cm ${}^2$ ) and high repetition rate (1 kHz), the system produces deuterium–deuterium (D-D) fusion, allowing for consistent neutron generation. Evidence of D-D fusion neutron production is verified by a measurement suite with three independent detection systems: an EJ-309 organic scintillator with pulse-shape discrimination, a ${}^3\mathrm{He}$ proportional counter and a set of 36 bubble detectors. Time-of-flight analysis of the scintillator data shows the energy of the produced neutrons to be consistent with 2.45 MeV. Particle-in-cell simulations using the WarpX code support significant neutron production from D-D fusion events in the laser–target interaction region. This high-repetition-rate laser-driven neutron source could provide a low-cost, on-demand test bed for radiation hardening and imaging applications.

The recent achievement of fusion ignition with laser-driven technologies at the National Ignition Facility sets a historic accomplishment in fusion energy research. This accomplishment paves the way for using laser inertial fusion as a viable approach for future energy production. Europe has a unique opportunity to empower research in this field internationally, and the scientific community is eager to engage in this journey. We propose establishing a European programme on inertial-fusion energy with the mission to demonstrate laser-driven ignition in the direct-drive scheme and to develop pathway technologies for the commercial fusion reactor. The proposed roadmap is based on four complementary axes: (i) the physics of laser–plasma interaction and burning plasmas; (ii) high-energy high repetition rate laser technology; (iii) fusion reactor technology and materials; and (iv) reinforcement of the laser fusion community by international education and training programmes. We foresee collaboration with universities, research centres and industry and establishing joint activities with the private sector involved in laser fusion. This project aims to stimulate a broad range of high-profile industrial developments in laser, plasma and radiation technologies along with the expected high-level socio-economic impact.

The interaction of relativistically intense lasers with opaque targets represents a highly non-linear, multi-dimensional parameter space. This limits the utility of sequential 1D scanning of experimental parameters for the optimization of secondary radiation, although to-date this has been the accepted methodology due to low data acquisition rates. High repetition-rate (HRR) lasers augmented by machine learning present a valuable opportunity for efficient source optimization. Here, an automated, HRR-compatible system produced high-fidelity parameter scans, revealing the influence of laser intensity on target pre-heating and proton generation. A closed-loop Bayesian optimization of maximum proton energy, through control of the laser wavefront and target position, produced proton beams with equivalent maximum energy to manually optimized laser pulses but using only 60% of the laser energy. This demonstration of automated optimization of laser-driven proton beams is a crucial step towards deeper physical insight and the construction of future radiation sources.

We present the development and characterization of a high-stability, multi-material, multi-thickness tape-drive target for laser-driven acceleration at repetition rates of up to 100 Hz. The tape surface position was measured to be stable on the sub-micrometre scale, compatible with the high-numerical aperture focusing geometries required to achieve relativistic intensity interactions with the pulse energy available in current multi-Hz and near-future higher repetition-rate lasers ( $>$ kHz). Long-term drift was characterized at 100 Hz demonstrating suitability for operation over extended periods. The target was continuously operated at up to 5 Hz in a recent experiment for 70,000 shots without intervention by the experimental team, with the exception of tape replacement, producing the largest data-set of relativistically intense laser–solid foil measurements to date. This tape drive provides robust targetry for the generation and study of high-repetition-rate ion beams using next-generation high-power laser systems, also enabling wider applications of laser-driven proton sources.

Thermal effects are typically considered as obstacles to high-repetition-rate stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) pulse compression. In this paper, a novel method is proposed for improving the SBS output characteristics by exploiting thermal effects on the liquid medium. Using HT270, the SBS output parameters with the medium purification and rotating off-centered lens methods are studied at different repetition rates. The results indicate that these two methods can alleviate thermal effects and improve the energy efficiency, but the rotating method reduces the energy stability because of the aggravated optical breakdown at the kilohertz-level repetition rate. For a 35-mJ pump energy, the energy efficiency at 2 kHz without the rotating method is 30% higher than that at 100 Hz and 70% higher than that at 500 Hz. The enhancement of the SBS output characteristics by thermal effects is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally, and 2-kHz high-power SBS pulse compression is achieved with HT270.

为了提高化学气相沉积（Chemical Vapor Deposition，CVD）金刚石的切深，采用新型的声光调制高重复频率激光器，研究了激光功率、焦点位置、激光重复频率、切割线速度以及激光横膜模式对CVD金刚石切缝宽度、切深以及表面粗糙度的影响。研究结果表明：切深和切缝上表面宽随着激光功率的增大而增大；焦点位置随切深的变化下移，可获得最大切深；重复频率的增大伴随着切深的减小和切缝上表面宽的增大；表面粗糙度随着切割线速度的增大先缓慢减小后显著增大；切缝上表面宽随着模式数的增多而增大。综合切深、缝宽和效率，最后在输出基横模下激光功率为12 W，重复频率为6 kHz，切割线速度为1 500 mm/min，焦点位置始终位于切割凹面，获得了效率最快、质量最好的结果，即单向切深最大可达7.2 mm，切面表面的粗糙度为0.804 µm，切缝上表面宽度为350 µm，满足在低切面表面粗糙度下获得CVD金刚石大切深的要求。

End-pumped by a 976 nm diode laser, a high-repetition-rate Er:Yb:YAl3(BO3)4 microchip laser passively Q-switched by a Co2+:MgAl2O4 crystal is reported. At a quasi-continuous-wave pump power of 20 W, a 1553 nm passively Q-switched laser with the repetition rate of 544 kHz, pulse duration of 8.3 ns, and pulse energy of 3.9 μJ was obtained. To the best of our knowledge, the 544 kHz is the highest reported value for the 1.5 μm passively Q-switched pulse laser. In the continuous-wave pumping experiment, the maximum repetition rate of 144 kHz with the pulse duration of 8.0 ns and pulse energy of 1.7 μJ was obtained at the incident pump power of 6.3 W.