Laser-to-hot-electron conversion limitations in relativistic laser matter interactions due to multi-picosecond dynamics

Schollmeier, M.; Sefkow, A. B.; Geissel, M.; Kimmel, M. W.; Rambo, P. K.; Schwarz, J.; Arefiev, A. V.; Flippo, K. A.; Johnson, R. P.; Shimada, T.; Gaillard, S. A.; Offermann, D. T.

doi:10.1063/1.4918332

Title: Laser-to-hot-electron conversion limitations in relativistic laser matter interactions due to multi-picosecond dynamics

Journal Article · Wed Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4918332· OSTI ID:22408353

Schollmeier, M.; Sefkow, A. B.; Geissel, M.; Kimmel, M. W.; Rambo, P. K.; Schwarz, J. ^[1]; Arefiev, A. V. ^[2]; Flippo, K. A.; Johnson, R. P.; Shimada, T. ^[3]; Gaillard, S. A. ^[4]; Offermann, D. T. ^[5]

Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)
Institute for Fusion Studies, The University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712 (United States)
Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545 (United States)
Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, 01328 Dresden (Germany)
Voss Scientific, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108 (United States)

High-energy short-pulse lasers are pushing the limits of plasma-based particle acceleration, x-ray generation, and high-harmonic generation by creating strong electromagnetic fields at the laser focus where electrons are being accelerated to relativistic velocities. Understanding the relativistic electron dynamics is key for an accurate interpretation of measurements. We present a unified and self-consistent modeling approach in quantitative agreement with measurements and differing trends across multiple target types acquired from two separate laser systems, which differ only in their nanosecond to picosecond-scale rising edge. Insights from high-fidelity modeling of laser-plasma interaction demonstrate that the ps-scale, orders of magnitude weaker rising edge of the main pulse measurably alters target evolution and relativistic electron generation compared to idealized pulse shapes. This can lead for instance to the experimentally observed difference between 45 MeV and 75 MeV maximum energy protons for two nominally identical laser shots, due to ps-scale prepulse variations. Our results show that the realistic inclusion of temporal laser pulse profiles in modeling efforts is required if predictive capability and extrapolation are sought for future target and laser designs or for other relativistic laser ion acceleration schemes.

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OSTI ID:: 22408353

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 22, Issue 4; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Beyond the ponderomotive limit: direct laser acceleration of relativistic electrons in sub-critical plasmas Arefiev, A. V.; Khudik, V. N.; Robinson, A. P. L. arXiv https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.1602.08758	text	January 2016
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