Currents from relativistic laser-plasma interaction as novel metrology for system stability of high-repetition-rate laser secondary sources

Abstract: This work shows for the first time experimentally the close relation between return currents from relativistic laser-driven target polarization and the quality of the relativistic laser plasma interaction for laser driven secondary sources. Such currents rise in all interaction schemes where targets of any kind are charged by escaping laser-accelerated relativistic electrons. Therefore, return currents can be used as a metrological online tool in the optimization of many laser-driven secondary sources and for diagnosing their stability. We demonstrate the destruction free measurement of return currents at the example of a tape target system irradiated by the 1 PW VEGA3 laser at CLPU at its maximum capabilities for laser-driven ion acceleration. Such endeavour paves the ground for feedback systems that operate at the high-repetition-rate of PW-class laser systems.