This paper presents the development and experimental utilization of a synchronized off-harmonic laser system designed as a probe for ultra-intense laser–plasma interaction experiments. The system exhibits a novel seed-generation design, allowing for a variable pulse duration spanning over more than three orders of magnitude, from 3.45 picoseconds to 10 nanoseconds. This makes it suitable for various plasma diagnostics and visualization techniques. In a side-view configuration, the laser was employed for interferometry and streaked shadowgraphy of a laser-induced plasma while successfully suppressing the self-emission background of the laser–plasma interaction, resulting in a signal-to-self-emission ratio of 110 for this setup. These properties enable the probe to yield valuable insights into the plasma dynamics and interactions at the PHELIX facility and to be deployed at various laser facilities due to its easy-to-implement design.

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.

Supersonic gas jets generated via a conical nozzle are widely applied in the laser wakefield acceleration of electrons. The stability of the gas jet is critical to the electron injection and the reproducibility of the wakefield acceleration. Here we discussed the role of the stilling chamber in a modified converging–diverging nozzle to dissipate the turbulence and to stabilize the gas jets. By the fluid dynamics simulations and the Mach–Zehnder interferometer measurements, the instability originating from the nonlinear turbulence is studied and the mechanism to suppress the instability is proposed. Both the numerical and experimental results prove that the carefully designed nozzle with a stilling chamber is able to reduce the perturbation by more than 10% compared with a simple-conical nozzle.

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.

Laser-plasma physics has developed rapidly over the past few decades as lasers have become both more powerful and more widely available. Early experimental and numerical research in this field was dominated by single-shot experiments with limited parameter exploration. However, recent technological improvements make it possible to gather data for hundreds or thousands of different settings in both experiments and simulations. This has sparked interest in using advanced techniques from mathematics, statistics and computer science to deal with, and benefit from, big data. At the same time, sophisticated modeling techniques also provide new ways for researchers to deal effectively with situation where still only sparse data are available. This paper aims to present an overview of relevant machine learning methods with focus on applicability to laser-plasma physics and its important sub-fields of laser-plasma acceleration and inertial confinement fusion.

Laser–plasma interaction and hot electrons have been characterized in detail in laser irradiation conditions relevant for direct-drive inertial confinement fusion. The experiment was carried out at the Gekko XII laser facility in multibeam planar target geometry at an intensity of approximately $3\times {10}^{15}$ W/cm². Experimental data suggest that high-energy electrons, with temperatures of 20–50 keV and conversion efficiencies of $\eta <1\%$ , were mainly produced by the damping of electron plasma waves driven by two-plasmon decay (TPD). Stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) is observed in a near-threshold growth regime, producing a reflectivity of approximately $0.01\%$ , and is well described by an analytical model accounting for the convective growth in independent speckles. The experiment reveals that both TPD and SRS are collectively driven by multiple beams, resulting in a more vigorous growth than that driven by single-beam laser intensity.

A new approach to target development for laboratory astrophysics experiments at high-power laser facilities is presented. With the dawn of high-power lasers, laboratory astrophysics has emerged as a field, bringing insight into physical processes in astrophysical objects, such as the formation of stars. An important factor for success in these experiments is targetry. To date, targets have mainly relied on expensive and challenging microfabrication methods. The design presented incorporates replaceable machined parts that assemble into a structure that defines the experimental geometry. This can make targets cheaper and faster to manufacture, while maintaining robustness and reproducibility. The platform is intended for experiments on plasma flows, but it is flexible and may be adapted to the constraints of other experimental setups. Examples of targets used in experimental campaigns are shown, including a design for insertion in a high magnetic field coil. Experimental results are included, demonstrating the performance of the targets.

随着激光技术的不断发展，激光功率突破10 PW量级，激光与物质相互作用进入近量子电动力学（QED）范畴。从弱相对论激光到相对论激光再到强相对论激光，激光场与物质的耦合可以产生能量从keV到MeV甚至GeV的X/γ射线。这些辐射具有通量大、亮度高、能量高和脉宽短等特点，在核物理、高能量密度物理、天体物理等基础研究以及材料科学、成像、医学等领域具有广泛应用前景。系统梳理了近年来相对论强激光与气体、近临界密度等离子体及固体靶相互作用，通过诸如同步辐射、betatron和类betatron辐射、Thomson散射和非线性Compton散射过程等产生高能X/γ射线的最新研究进展，总结了各种方案产生的X/γ射线的品质因子和潜在应用，并为下一步基于强激光大科学装置的实验研究提供理论参考。

激光驱动的正电子源具有高产额、短脉宽、高能量的优点。采用粒子模拟和蒙特卡罗模拟相结合的方法，对相对论飞秒激光与表面具有微米丝阵结构的调制靶相互作用产生正电子束的过程进行了全三维的模拟研究。结果表明，在激光能量约3.2 J、脉宽约为40 fs的情况下，可得到产额为10¹¹量级、最大能量达120 MeV的超热电子束，其轰击高Z转换靶可达到产额为10⁹量级、截止能量约50 MeV的正电子，且正电子的发散角仅为4.92°。相比于平板靶，表面调制靶的使用可以提高正电子的产额、能量和定向性。