Gilliss Dyer

All Publications

• Time-resolved X-ray imaging of the current filamentation instability in solid-density plasmas. Nature communications Schoenwaelder, C., Marret, A., Assenbaum, S., Curry, C. B., Cunningham, E., Dyer, G., Funk, S., Glenn, G. D., Goede, S., Khaghani, D., Rehwald, M., Schramm, U., Treffert, F., Vescovi, M., Zeil, K., Glenzer, S. H., Fiuza, F., Gauthier, M. 2026

  Abstract

  The streaming of energetic charged particles can magnetize astrophysical and laboratory plasmas via the current filamentation instability. Despite its importance, the experimental characterization of this instability has remained a challenge. Here, we report an experiment combining a high-intensity optical laser with a high-brightness X-ray free electron laser that successfully images the instability in solid-density plasmas with 200 nm spatial and 50 fs temporal resolution. We characterize the development of mum-scale filamentary structures and their evolution over tens of picoseconds through a non-linear merging process. The measured plasma density modulations and long merging time reveal the critical importance of space-charge effects and ion motion on this electron-driven instability. Supporting theoretical analysis and kinetic simulations help distinguish the relative role of space-charge and resistive effects. Our findings indicate that magnetic fields on the order of 10 megagauss are produced, with important implications for transport and radiation emission of energetic particles in plasmas.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-67160-2

  View details for PubMedID 41513673

• Multi-messenger dynamic imaging of laser-driven shocks in water using a plasma wakefield accelerator. Nature communications Balcazar, M. D., Tsai, H., Ostermayr, T. M., Campbell, P., Trantham, M. R., Albert, F., Chen, Q., Colgan, C., Dyer, G. M., Eisentraut, Z., Esarey, E., Grace, E. S., Greenwood, B., Gonsalves, A. J., Hakimi, S., Jacob, R., Kettle, B., King, P., Krushelnick, K., Lemos, N., Los, E. E., Ma, Y., Mangles, S. P., Nees, J., Pagano, I. M., Schroeder, C. B., Simpson, R. A., Vazquez, A. V., van Tilborg, J., Geddes, C. G., Thomas, A. G., Kuranz, C. C. 2025

  Abstract

  Understanding dense matter hydrodynamics is critical for predicting plasma behavior in environments relevant to laser-driven inertial confinement fusion. Traditional diagnostic sources face limitations in brightness, spatiotemporal resolution, and in their ability to detect relevant electromagnetic fields. In this work, we present a dual-probe, multi-messenger laser wakefield accelerator platform combining ultrafast X-rays and relativistic electron beams at 1 Hz, to interrogate a free-flowing water target in vacuum, heated by an intense 200 ps laser pulse. This scheme enables high-repetition-rate tracking the evolution of theinteraction using both particle types. Betatron X-rays reveal a cylindrically symmetric shock compression morphology assisted by low-density vapor, resembling foam-layer-assisted fusion targets. The synchronized electron beam detects time-evolving electromagnetic fields, uncovering charge separation and ion species differentiation during plasma expansion - phenomena not captured by photons or hydrodynamic simulations. We show that combining both probes provides complementary insights spanning kinetic to hydrodynamic regimes, highlighting the need for hybrid physics models to accurately predict fusion-relevant plasma behavior.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-67224-3

  View details for PubMedID 41402302

• Observation of a mixed close-packed structure in superionic water. Nature communications Andriambariarijaona, L., Stevenson, M. G., Bethkenhagen, M., Lecherbourg, L., Lefèvre, F., Vinci, T., Appel, K., Baehtz, C., Benuzzi-Mounaix, A., Bergermann, A., Bespalov, D., Brambrink, E., Cowan, T. E., Cunningham, E., Descamps, A., Cafiso, S. D., Dyer, G., Fletcher, L. B., French, M., Frost, M., Galtier, E., Gleason, A. E., Glenzer, S. H., Glenn, G. D., Guarnelli, Y., Hartley, N. J., He, Z., Herbert, M. L., Hernandez, J. A., Heuser, B., Höppner, H., Humphries, O. S., Husband, R., Khaghani, D., Konôpková, Z., Kuhlke, J., Garcia, A. L., Lee, H. J., Lindqvist, B., Lütgert, J., Lynn, W., Masruri, M., May, P., McBride, E. E., Nagler, B., Nakatsutsumi, M., Naedler, J. P., Ofori-Okai, B. K., Pandolfi, S., Pelka, A., Preston, T. R., Qu, C., Randolph, L., Ranjan, D., Redmer, R., Rips, J., Schoenwaelder, C., Schumacher, S., Schuster, A. K., Schwinkendorf, J. P., Strohm, C., Tang, M., Toncian, T., Voigt, K., Vorberger, J., Zastrau, U., Kraus, D., Ravasio, A. 2025

  Abstract

  The study of superionic (SI) water has been a highly active research area since its theoretical prediction. Despite significant experimental and computational efforts, its melting curve and the stability of different oxygen lattices remain debated, impacting our understanding of SI ice's peculiar transport properties. Experimental results at lower pressures show disagreement, whereas data at higher pressures are scarce due to the extreme challenges of such experiments. In this work, we present ultrafast X-ray diffraction results of water compressed by multiple shocks to pressures up to  ~ 180 GPa. At pressures exceeding 150 GPa and temperatures around 2500 K, our diffraction patterns challenge the pure FCC-SI phase model, providing experimental evidence of the mixed close-packed superionic phase predicted by advanced ab initio calculations. At lower pressures, we observe simultaneous signatures of BCC and FCC structures within a pressure-temperature range consistent with some static-compression experiments, helping to resolve contradictory results in literature. These insights offer new constraints on the stability domains of SI phases and reveal detailed structural features, such as stacking faults. Our results advance the structural understanding of high-pressure SI ice to a level approaching that of ice I polymorphs, with potential implications for water-rich interiors of giant planets.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-67063-2

  View details for PubMedID 41354672

• Characterizing laser-heated polymer foams with simultaneous x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and Thomson scattering at the Matter in Extreme Conditions Endstation at LCLS PHYSICS OF PLASMAS Martin, W. M., Nilsen, J., Fletcher, L. B., Macdonald, M. J., Andersen, L., Arnott, A., Bellenbaum, H., Bohme, M., Boiadjieva, N., Czapla, N., Cowan, T. E., Doppner, T., Dyer, G., Ettelbrick, R. N., Falcone, R., Faubel, S., Galtier, E., Laso Garcia, A., Gawne, T., Hancock, L., Hart, P., Hartley, N. J., Herbert, M. L., Huang, X., Jain, G., Kabelitz, K. D., Khaghani, D., Kraus, D., Lee, H. J., Li, P., Lu, Y., Mettry-Yassa, M., Mcgehee, P., Nagler, B., Rips, J., Schumacher, S., Toro, E. R., Toncian, T., Xia, X., Gleason, A., Glenzer, S. H. 2025; 32 (7)

  View details for DOI 10.1063/5.0267033

  View details for Web of Science ID 001522167800015

• X-ray microscopy and talbot imaging with the matter in extreme conditions X-ray imager at LCLS. Scientific reports Galtier, E., Lee, H. J., Khaghani, D., Boiadjieva, N., McGehee, P., Arnott, A., Arnold, B., Berboucha, M., Cunningham, E., Czapla, N., Dyer, G., Ettelbrick, R., Hart, P., Heimann, P., Welch, M., Makita, M., Gleason, A. E., Pandolfi, S., Sakdinawat, A., Liu, Y., Wojcik, M. J., Hodge, D., Sandberg, R., Valdivia, M. P., Bouffetier, V., Pérez-Callejo, G., Seiboth, F., Nagler, B. 2025; 15 (1): 7588

  Abstract

  The last decade has shown the great potential that X-ray Free Electron Lasers (FEL) have to study High Energy Density (HED) physics. Experiments at FELs have made significant breakthroughs in Shock Physics and Dynamic Diffraction, Dense Plasma Physics and Warm Dense Matter Science, using techniques such as isochoric heating, inelastic scattering, small angle scattering and X-ray diffraction. In addition, and complementary to these techniques, the coherent properties of the FEL beam can be used to image HED samples with high fidelity. We present new imaging diagnostics and techniques developed at the Matter in Extreme Conditions (MEC) instrument at Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) over the last few years. We show results in Phase Contrast Imaging geometry, where the X-ray beam propagates from the target to a camera revealing its phase, as well as in Direct Imaging geometry, where a real image of the sample plane is produced in the camera with a spatial resolution down to 200 nm. Last, we show an implementation of the Talbot Imaging method allowing both X-ray phase and intensity measurements change introduced by a target with sub-micron resolution.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41598-025-91989-8

  View details for PubMedID 40038475

  View details for PubMedCentralID 4416670

• A scintillator attenuation spectrometer for intense gamma-rays REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS Liang, E., Zheng, K. Q., Yao, K., Lo, W., Hasson, H., Zhang, A., Burns, M., Wong, W. H., Zhang, Y., Dashko, A., Quevedo, H., Ditmire, T., Dyer, G. 2022; 93 (6)

  View details for DOI 10.1063/5.0082131

  View details for Web of Science ID 000806635900002

• Experiments and simulations of isochorically heated warm dense carbon foam at the Texas Petawatt Laser MATTER AND RADIATION AT EXTREMES Roycroft, R., Bradley, P. A., McCary, E., Bowers, B., Smith, H., Dyer, G. M., Albright, B. J., Blouin, S., Hakel, P., Quevedo, H. J., Vold, E. L., Yin, L., Hegelich, B. M. 2021; 6 (1)

  View details for DOI 10.1063/5.0026595

  View details for Web of Science ID 000600203900001

• Ronchi shearing interferometry for wavefronts with circular symmetry JOURNAL OF SYNCHROTRON RADIATION Nagler, B., Galtier, E. C., Brown, S. B., Heimann, P., Dyer, G., Lee, H. 2020; 27: 1461–69

  Abstract

  Ronchi testing of a focused electromagnetic wave has in the last few years been used extensively at X-ray free-electron laser (FEL) facilities to qualitatively evaluate the wavefront of the beam. It is a quick and straightforward test, is easy to interpret on the fly, and can be used to align phase plates that correct the focus of aberrated beams. In general, a single Ronchigram is not sufficient to gain complete quantitative knowledge of the wavefront. However the compound refractive lenses that are commonly used at X-ray FELs exhibit a strong circular symmetry in their aberration, and this can be exploited. Here, a simple algorithm that uses a single recorded Ronchigram to recover the full wavefront of a nano-focused beam, assuming circular symmetry, is presented, and applied to experimental measurements at the Matter in Extreme Conditions instrument at the Linac Coherent Light Source.

  View details for DOI 10.1107/S1600577520010735

  View details for Web of Science ID 000588645400001

  View details for PubMedID 33147170

• Laser-plasmas in the relativistic-transparency regime: Science and applications Fernandez, J. C., Gautier, D., Huang, C., Palaniyappan, S., Albright, B. J., Bang, W., Dyer, G., Favalli, A., Hunter, J. F., Mendez, J., Roth, M., Swinhoe, M., Bradley, P. A., Deppert, O., Espy, M., Falk, K., Guler, N., Hamilton, C., Hegelich, B., Henzlova, D., Ianakiev, K. D., Iliev, M., Johnson, R. P., Kleinschmidt, A., Losko, A. S., McCary, E., Mocko, M., Nelson, R. O., Roycroft, R., Cordoba, M., Schanz, V. A., Schaumann, G., Schmidt, D. W., Sefkow, A., Shimada, T., Taddeucci, T. N., Tebartz, A., Vogel, S. C., Vold, E., Wurden, G. A., Yin, L. AMER INST PHYSICS. 2017: 056702

  Abstract

  Laser-plasma interactions in the novel regime of relativistically induced transparency (RIT) have been harnessed to generate intense ion beams efficiently with average energies exceeding 10 MeV/nucleon (>100 MeV for protons) at "table-top" scales in experiments at the LANL Trident Laser. By further optimization of the laser and target, the RIT regime has been extended into a self-organized plasma mode. This mode yields an ion beam with much narrower energy spread while maintaining high ion energy and conversion efficiency. This mode involves self-generation of persistent high magnetic fields (∼104 T, according to particle-in-cell simulations of the experiments) at the rear-side of the plasma. These magnetic fields trap the laser-heated multi-MeV electrons, which generate a high localized electrostatic field (∼0.1 T V/m). After the laser exits the plasma, this electric field acts on a highly structured ion-beam distribution in phase space to reduce the energy spread, thus separating acceleration and energy-spread reduction. Thus, ion beams with narrow energy peaks at up to 18 MeV/nucleon are generated reproducibly with high efficiency (≈5%). The experimental demonstration has been done with 0.12 PW, high-contrast, 0.6 ps Gaussian 1.053 μm laser pulses irradiating planar foils up to 250 nm thick at 2-8 × 1020 W/cm2. These ion beams with co-propagating electrons have been used on Trident for uniform volumetric isochoric heating to generate and study warm-dense matter at high densities. These beam plasmas have been directed also at a thick Ta disk to generate a directed, intense point-like Bremsstrahlung source of photons peaked at ∼2 MeV and used it for point projection radiography of thick high density objects. In addition, prior work on the intense neutron beam driven by an intense deuterium beam generated in the RIT regime has been extended. Neutron spectral control by means of a flexible converter-disk design has been demonstrated, and the neutron beam has been used for point-projection imaging of thick objects. The plans and prospects for further improvements and applications are also discussed.

  View details for DOI 10.1063/1.4983991

  View details for Web of Science ID 000400817900152

  View details for PubMedID 28652684

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5449275

• Diagnostics improvement in the ABC facility and preliminary tests on laser interaction with light-atom clusters and p+B-11 targets Consoli, F., De Angelis, R., Andreoli, P., Cristofari, G., Di Giorgio, G., Bonasera, A., Barbui, M., Mazzocco, M., Bang, W., Dyer, G., Quevedo, H., Hagel, K., Schmidt, K., Gaul, E., Borger, T., Bernstein, A., Martinez, M., Donovan, M., Barbarino, M., Kimura, S., Sura, J., Natowitz, J., Ditmire, T. ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. 2013: 149-152

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.nima.2012.12.013

  View details for Web of Science ID 000320597900038

• Hot electron production using the Texas Petawatt Laser irradiating thick gold targets HIGH ENERGY DENSITY PHYSICS Taylor, D., Liang, E., Clarke, T., Henderson, A., Chaguine, P., Wang, X., Dyer, G., Serratto, K., Riley, N., Donovan, M., Ditmire, T. 2013; 9 (2): 363-368

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.hedp.2013.02.002

  View details for Web of Science ID 000319952300021

• Study of the yield of D-D, D-He-3 fusion reactions produced by the interaction of intense ultrafast laser pulses with molecular clusters Barbui, M., Bang, W., Bonasera, A., Hagel, K., Schmidt, K., Natowitz, J., Giuliani, G., Barbarino, M., Dyer, G., Quevedo, H., Gaul, E., Borger, T., Bernstein, A., Martinez, M., Donovan, M., Ditmire, T., Kimura, S., Mazzocco, M., Consoli, F., De Angelis, R., Andreoli, P. edited by Li, B. A., Natowitz, J. B. IOP PUBLISHING LTD. 2013

  View details for DOI 10.1088/1742-6596/420/1/012060

  View details for Web of Science ID 000318430800060

• The Texas Petawatt Laser and Current Experiments Martinez, M., Bang, W., Dyer, G., Wang, X., Gaul, E., Borger, T., Ringuette, M., Spinks, M., Quevedo, H., Bernstein, A., Donovan, M., Ditmire, T. edited by Zgadzaj, R., Gaul, E., Downer, M. C. AMER INST PHYSICS. 2012: 874-878

  View details for DOI 10.1063/1.4773814

  View details for Web of Science ID 000315058700138

• Demonstration of a 1.1 petawatt laser based on a hybrid optical parametric chirped pulse amplification/mixed Nd:glass amplifier APPLIED OPTICS Gaul, E. W., Martinez, M., Blakeney, J., Jochmann, A., Ringuette, M., Hammond, D., Borger, T., Escamilla, R., Douglas, S., Henderson, W., Dyer, G., Erlandson, A., Cross, R., Caird, J., Ebbers, C., Ditmire, T. 2010; 49 (9): 1676-1681

  Abstract

  We present the design and performance of the Texas Petawatt Laser, which produces a 186 J 167 fs pulse based on the combination of optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) and mixed Nd:glass amplification. OPCPA provides the majority of the gain and is used to broaden and shape the seed spectrum, while amplification in Nd:glass accounts for >99% of the final pulse energy. Compression is achieved with highly efficient multilayer dielectric gratings.

  View details for DOI 10.1364/AO.49.001676

  View details for Web of Science ID 000275743500027

  View details for PubMedID 20300167