Laser reflection as a catalyst for direct laser acceleration in multipicosecond laser-plasma interaction

Weichman, K.; Robinson, A. P.  L.; Beg, F. N.; Arefiev, A. V.

doi:10.1063/1.5129054

Title: Laser reflection as a catalyst for direct laser acceleration in multipicosecond laser-plasma interaction

Journal Article · 12 January 2020 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5129054 · OSTI ID:1594723

^[1]; Robinson, A. P. L. ^[2]; Beg, F. N. ^[3];

^[3]

Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; UCSD
Rutherford-Appleton Lab. (United Kingdom). Central Laser Facility
Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

We demonstrate in this work that laser reflection acts as a catalyst for superponderomotive electron production in the preplasma formed by relativistic multipicosecond lasers incident on solid density targets. In 1D particle-in-cell simulations, high energy electron production proceeds via two stages of direct laser acceleration, an initial stochastic backward stage, and a final non-stochastic forward stage. The initial stochastic stage, driven by the reflected laser pulse, provides the pre-acceleration needed to enable the final stage to be non-stochastic. Energy gain in the electrostatic potential, which has been frequently considered to enhance stochastic heating, is only of secondary importance. The mechanism underlying the production of high energy electrons by laser pulses incident on solid density targets is of direct relevance to applications involving multipicosecond laser-plasma interactions.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) (SC-24); Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Scientific User Facilities Division

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0018312; FG02-97ER25308; AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 1594723

Journal Information:: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 27; ISSN 1070-664X

Publisher:: American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: Laser reflection as a catalyst for direct laser acceleration in multipicosecond laser-plasma interaction

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