skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Coupling of laser energy into hot-electrons in high-contrast relativistic laser-plasma interactions

Abstract

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.

Authors:
 [1]; ; ;  [2]; ;  [3]
  1. Department of Physics, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 (United States)
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)
  3. Department of Physics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22107706
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 20; Journal Issue: 3; Other Information: (c) 2013 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; ABSORPTION; ACCELERATION; DENSITY; ELECTRONS; HEATING; LASERS; LIGHT TRANSMISSION; MAGNETIC FIELDS; PLASMA SIMULATION; PULSES; RELATIVISTIC PLASMA; RELATIVISTIC RANGE; STANDING WAVES; STOCHASTIC PROCESSES

Citation Formats

Kemp, G. E., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, Link, A., Ping, Y., Patel, P. K., Schumacher, D. W., and Freeman, R. R. Coupling of laser energy into hot-electrons in high-contrast relativistic laser-plasma interactions. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4794961.
Kemp, G. E., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, Link, A., Ping, Y., Patel, P. K., Schumacher, D. W., & Freeman, R. R. Coupling of laser energy into hot-electrons in high-contrast relativistic laser-plasma interactions. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4794961
Kemp, G. E., Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550, Link, A., Ping, Y., Patel, P. K., Schumacher, D. W., and Freeman, R. R. 2013. "Coupling of laser energy into hot-electrons in high-contrast relativistic laser-plasma interactions". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4794961.
@article{osti_22107706,
title = {Coupling of laser energy into hot-electrons in high-contrast relativistic laser-plasma interactions},
author = {Kemp, G. E. and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 and Link, A. and Ping, Y. and Patel, P. K. and Schumacher, D. W. and Freeman, R. R.},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4794961},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22107706}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 3,
volume = 20,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Fri Mar 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}