We present a novel scheme for rapid quantitative analysis of debris generated during experiments with solid targets following relativistic laser–plasma interaction at high-power laser facilities. Results are supported by standard analysis techniques. Experimental data indicate that predictions by available modelling for non-mass-limited targets are reasonable, with debris of the order of hundreds of μg per shot. We detect for the first time two clearly distinct types of debris emitted from the same interaction. A fraction of the debris is ejected directionally, following the target normal (rear and interaction side). The directional debris ejection towards the interaction side is larger than on the side of the target rear. The second type of debris is characterized by a more spherically uniform ejection, albeit with a small asymmetry that favours ejection towards the target rear side.

Accurate characterization of high-power laser parameters, especially the near-field and far-field distributions, is crucial for inertial confinement fusion experiments. In this paper, we propose a method for computationally reconstructing the complex amplitude of high-power laser beams using modified coherent modulation imaging. This method has the advantage of being able to simultaneously calculate both the near-field (intensity and wavefront/phase) and far-field (focal-spot) distributions using the reconstructed complex amplitude. More importantly, the focal-spot distributions at different focal planes can also be calculated. To verify the feasibility, the complex amplitude optical field of the high-power pulsed laser was measured after static aberrations calibration. Experimental results also indicate that the near-field wavefront resolution of this method is higher than that of the Hartmann measurement. In addition, the far-field focal spot exhibits a higher dynamic range (176 dB) than that of traditional direct imaging (62 dB).