Fast electron transport in solid targets

Journal Article · Fri Feb 20 00:00:00 EST 1998 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.55209· OSTI ID:21185596

Davies, J R; Bell, A R ^[1]

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1. Plasma Physics, Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BZ (United Kingdom)

The generation of fast electrons in high intensity laser-solid interactions has been extensively studied. A frequently used diagnostic for fast electrons is K{sub {alpha}} emission from layered targets, the interpretation of such data requires a model for the transport of the fast electrons through the target. Such experiments have largely been interpreted using models including only collisional effects. However recent works have shown that at high intensities electric and magnetic fields could be important. Here we present a code which can deal with the transport of fast electrons through solid targets including both collisions and field generation. The fast electrons are represented by a relativistic Fokker-Planck equation including drag, angular scattering, electric and magnetic fields, which is solved using stochastic differential equations (SDEs). The background is represented by E={eta}j{sub b}, where {eta} is the resistivity and j{sub b} the background current density. Changes in resistivity due to heating of the background by the fast electrons are included. Current balance is assumed allowing the electric field to be found directly from the fast electron current. Rotational symmetry is assumed. The treatment is valid for fast electron number densities much less than that of the background, fast electron energies much greater than the background temperature and time scales short enough that magnetic diffusion and thermal conduction are negligible. The neglect of ionization also limits the validity of the model.

• OSTI ID: 21185596
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 426, Issue 1; Conference: International conference on superstrong fields in plasmas, Varenna (Italy), 27 Aug - 2 Sep 1997; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.55209; (c) 1998 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
CURRENT DENSITY
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
ELECTRONS
FOKKER-PLANCK EQUATION
IONIZATION
LASER RADIATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASERS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
STOCHASTIC PROCESSES
THERMAL CONDUCTION