'Optical Rocket' Created with Intense Laser Light

Physics professor Donald Umstadter at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently did an experiment about the plasma electrons in the paths of intense laser light pulses. They were almost instantly accelerated close to the speed of light. He stated that the new application might be called an "optical rocket" as it showed an enormous amount of force that light exerted in the experiment. The electrons were subjected to a force almost a trillion-times greater than that felt by an astronaut launched into space.

"This is a new and unique application of intense light can improve the performance of compact electron accelerators," but the novel and more general scientific aspect of results are that the application of the force of light resulted in the direct acceleration of matter."

Umstadter said, the optical rocket is the latest example of how the forces exerted by light can be used as tools and the new application of intense light provides a means to control the initial phase of Wakefield acceleration. It improves the performance of a new generation of compact electron accelerators and they are expected to pave the way for a range of applications that were previously impractical because of the enormous size of conventional accelerators.

By: Lubhawani Sharma                            

Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/09/180914141422.htm