The effects of pre-plasma scale length on the relativistic electron beam directionality
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- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); University of California, Davis, CA (United States)
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- University of California, Davis, CA (United States)
The effects of pre-plasmas on the electron beam directionality was experimentally and numerically investigated. Single material and layered targets made of Ti and/or CH were used to simultaneously measure high-energy (≥3 MeV) electrons along two directions, pre-pulse energy and pre-plasma density. The electron directionality is quantified by using a new parameter, the electron energy ratio of the total kinetic energies along the two directions. Measurements and radiation–hydrodynamic (RH) simulations show that a large (≥3.5 μm) plasma scale length at the critical surface enhances electrons along the laser axis, and such pre-plasma conditions could only be achieved with the CH targets. Particle-in-cell simulations were performed on the RH generated pre-plasmas from Ti and CH targets, and the results show that the CH target provided conditions for higher forward momentum gains by electrons. First, the CH target allowed longer distances for electrons to interact with laser. Second, the intense laser pulse modified the critical surface, but the resulting surface differed. The CH target resulted in a smooth surface where a retro-reflection was observed while the Ti target resulted in a rippled surface that scattered the reflected light. As results, the CH electrons gained higher forward momentum via a direct-laser-acceleration in the counter propagating laser fields. So the results presented in this article show a way of controlling the high-energy electron directionality.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC52-07NA27344
- OSTI ID:
- 1994033
- Report Number(s):
- LLNL-JRNL-837256; 1055696
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 30; ISSN 1070-664X
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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