Coupling of laser energy into hot-electrons in high-contrast relativistic laser-plasma interactions
- Department of Physics, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 (United States)
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)
- Department of Physics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 (United States)
We use particle-in-cell simulations to explain the mechanisms responsible for the coupling of laser energy into relativistic electrons for the case of sharp interface, solid density metal targets free of pre-plasma. For perfectly flat interfaces, the accelerated electron trajectories are dominated by the standing-wave (SW) field structure formed by interference between incident and reflected pulses. We find that quasi-static magnetic fields that develop near the interface play only a minor role in perturbing the relativistic electron trajectories but can contribute to enhanced absorption. Target surfaces that are structured exhibit enhanced absorption, and the acceleration mechanism deviates from the clean standing-wave acceleration mechanism leading to more stochastic electron heating and larger divergence angles.
- OSTI ID:
- 22107706
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 20, Issue 3; Other Information: (c) 2013 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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