Density modification and energetic ion production at relativistic self-focusing of laser beams in plasmas

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Phys. Fluids; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.863964· OSTI ID:6897804

Jones, D A; Kane, E L; Lalousis, P; Wiles, P; Hora, H

A two-dimensional time-dependent laser plasma interaction code is described and used to model the interaction between a 5 psec Nd glass laser pulse of peak power 10/sup 13/ W and a 35 times ionized tin target. Parameters are chosen so that relativistic self-focusing down to a diameter of the order of the wavelength of the laser light is observed in a distance comparable to the half intensity vacuum beam diameter. At later times strong modification of the plasma density by the nonlinear force is observed. The combination of relativistic self-focusing and axial nonlinear force results in the acceleration of tin ions to a maximum energy of 5 GeV, in agreement with previous approximate calculations.

• Research Organization: Department of Theoretical Physics, The University of New South Wales, Kensington, Sydney 2033, Australia
• OSTI ID: 6897804
• Journal Information: Phys. Fluids; (United States), Vol. 25:12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
LASER RADIATION
FOCUSING
INTERACTIONS
PLASMA
WAVE PROPAGATION
PLASMA DENSITY
MODIFICATIONS
ACCELERATION
CORRELATIONS
GEV RANGE 01-10
POWER
PULSES
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
TARGETS
TIME DEPENDENCE
TIN
TIN IONS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
CHARGED PARTICLES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY RANGE
GEV RANGE
IONS
METALS
RADIATIONS
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