Bulk resonance absorption induced by relativistic effects in laser-plasma interaction

Journal Article · Wed Apr 15 04:00:00 EDT 2009 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3121220· OSTI ID:21276994

Wenjun, Ding ^[1]; Sheng, Z -M ^[1]; Zhang, J ^[1]; Yu, M Y ^[2]

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1. Beijing National Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, CAS, Beijing 100190 (China)
2. Institute for Fusion Theory and Simulation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027 (China)

Resonance absorption in relativistic laser-plasma interaction is studied via two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation. As the laser intensity increases from the linear regime, the absorption rate first decreases due to relativistic modulation of the electron plasma oscillations excited at the mode conversion layer. However, the trend reverses after a critical intensity. The reversal can be attributed to the fact that the relativistic critical layer depends on the local intensity of the laser pulse, so that instead of occurring in a thin layer, resonance absorption occurs in a plasma bulk region, leading absorption rate increase. The reflected-light spectrum also shows broadening and splitting of the harmonics at high laser intensities, which can be attributed to critical-surface oscillations driven by the laser ponderomotive force.

• OSTI ID: 21276994
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 16; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
LASER RADIATION
MODE CONVERSION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA SIMULATION
PLASMA WAVES
PONDEROMOTIVE FORCE
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
RESONANCE ABSORPTION
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS