Electron self-injection and acceleration driven by a tightly focused intense laser beam in an underdense plasma

A scheme for electron self-injection in the laser wakefield acceleration is proposed. In this scheme, the transverse wave breaking of the wakefield and the tightly focused geometry of the laser beam play important roles. A large number of the background electrons are self-injected into the acceleration phase of the wakefield during the defocusing of the tightly focused laser beam as it propagates through an underdense plasma. Particle-in-cell simulations performed using a 2D3V code have shown generation of a collimated electron bunch with a total number of 1.4 x 109 and energies up to 8 MeV. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.

Pondermotive shift of photoelectron spectra in intense laser field

In a recent experimental work on the excess photon detachment (EPD) of H- ions [Phys. Rev. Lett. 87 (2001) 243001] it has been found that the ponderomotive shift of each EPD peak increases with the order of the EPD channel. By using a nonperturbative quantum scattering theory, we obtain the kinetic energy spectra for the differential detachment rate along the laser polarization for several laser intensities. It is demonstrated that higher order EPD peaks are produced mainly at relatively higher laser intensities. By calculating the overall EPD spectra with varying laser intensities, it is found that the ponderomotive shift of each EPD peak increases with the order of the EPD channel. Our calculations are in good agreement with the experimental observation. It is found that different EPD channels occur mainly when the laser field reaches some values, thus the intensity distribution of the laser field is responsible for the varying ponderomotive shifts.

Short-pulse laser absorption in very steep plasma density gradients

An analytical fluid model for resonance absorption during the oblique incidence by femtosecond laser pulses on a small-scale-length density plasma [k(0)L is an element of(0.1,10)] is proposed. The physics of resonance absorption is analyzed more clearly as we separate the electric field into an electromagnetic part and an electrostatic part. It is found that the characteristics of the physical quantities (fractional absorption, optimum angle, etc.) in a small-scale-length plasma are quite different from the predictions of classical theory. Absorption processes are generally dependent on the density scale length. For shorter scale length or higher laser intensity, vacuum heating tends to be dominant. It is shown that the electrons being pulled out and then returned to the plasma at the interface layer by the wave field can lead to a phenomenon like wave breaking. This can lead to heating of the plasma at the expanse of the wave energy. It is found that the optimum angle is independent of the laser intensity while the absorption rate increases with the laser intensity, and the absorption rate can reach as high as 25%. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Short-pulse laser absorption via J x B heating in ultrahigh intensity laser plasma interaction

An analytical fluid model for JxB heating during the normal incidence by a short ultraintense linearly polarized laser on a solid-density plasma is proposed. The steepening of an originally smooth electron density profile as the electrons are pushed inward by the laser is included self-consistently. It is shown that the JxB heating includes two distinct coupling processes depending on the initial laser and plasma conditions: for a moderate intensity (a <= 1), the ponderomotive force of the laser light can drive a large plasma wave at the point n(e)=4 gamma(0)n(c) resonantly. When this plasma wave is damped, the energy is transferred to the plasma. At higher intensity, the electron density is steepened to a high level by the time-independent ponderomotive force, n(e)> 4 gamma(0)n(c), so that no 2 omega resonance will occur, but the longitudinal component of the oscillating ponderomotive field can lead to an absorption mechanism similar to "vacuum heating." (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Standing ultrashort relativistic solitons in overdense plasmas

By using a one-dimensional self-consistent relativistic fluid model, an investigation is made numerically on relativistic electromagnetic solitons with a high intensity in cold overdense plasmas with an electrons' initial velocity opposite to the laser propagating direction. Two types of standing solitons with zero group velocity are found at the given electrons' initial velocities. One is single-humped with a weakly relativistic intensity; the another is multi-humped with a strong relativistic amplitude. The properties of these two types of solitons are presented in detail.

Study on the interaction of intense femtosecond laser pulses with nanometre-sized hydrogen clusters

The interaction of intense femtosecond laser pulses with hydrogen clusters has been experimentally studied. The hydrogen clusters were produced from expansion of high-pressure hydrogen gas (backed up to 8x10(6)Pa) into vacuum through a conical nozzle cryogenically cooled by liquid nitrogen. The average size of hydrogen clusters was estimated by Rayleigh scattering measurement and the maximum proton energy of up to 4.2keV has been obtained from the Coulomb explosion of hydrogen clusters under 2 x 10(16)W/cm(2) laser irradiation. Dependence of the maximum proton energy on cluster size and laser intensity was investigated, indicating the correlation between the laser intensity and the cluster size. The maximum proton energy is found to be directly proportional to the laser intensity, which is consistent with the theoretical prediction.

Vacuum heating in the interaction of ultrashort, relativistically strong laser pulses with solid targets

An analytical fluid model for vacuum heating during the oblique incidence by an ultrashort ultraintense p-polarized laser on a solid-density plasma is proposed. The steepening of an originally smooth electron density profile as the electrons are pushed inward by the laser is included self-consistently. It is shown that the electrons being pulled out and then returned to the plasma at the interface layer by the wave field can lead to a phenomenon like wave breaking since the front part of the returning electrons always move slower than the trailing part. This can lead to heating of the plasma at the expense of the wave energy. An estimate for the efficiency of laser energy absorption by the vacuum heating is given. It is also found that for the incident laser intensity parameter, a(L)> 0.5, the absorption rate peaks at an incident angle 45 degrees-52 degrees and it reaches a maximum of 30% at a(L)approximate to 1.5.

Coulomb explosion of hydrogen clusters irradiated by an ultrashort intense laser pulse

The explosion dynamics of hydrogen clusters driven by an ultrashort intense laser pulse has been analyzed analytically and numerically by employing a simplified Coulomb explosion model. The dependence of average and maximum proton kinetic energy on cluster size, pulse duration, and laser intensity has been investigated respectively. The existence of an optimum cluster size allows the proton energy to reach the maximum when the cluster size matches with the intensity and the duration of the laser pulse. In order to explain our experimental results such as the measured proton energy spectrum and the saturation effect of proton energy, the effects of cluster size distribution as well as the laser intensity distribution on the focus spot should be considered. A good agreement between them is obtained.

Propagation of a few-cycle laser pulse in a V-type three-level system

Propagation of a few-cycle laser pulse in a V-type three-level system (fine structure levels of rubidium) is investigated numerically. The full three-level Maxwell-Bloch equations without the rotating wave approximation and the standing slowly varying envelope approximation are solved by using a finite-difference time-domain method. It is shown that, when the usual unequal oscillator strengths are considered, self-induced transparency cannot be recovered and higher spectral components can be produced even for small-area pulses. (c) 2005 Pleiades Publishing, Inc.

Two-colour laser-induced electron dynamics in two-level quantum system

To attempt to control the quantum state of a physical system with a femtosecond two-colour laser field, a model for the two-level system is analysed as a first step. We investigate the coherent control of the two-colour laser pulses propagating in a two-level medium. Based on calculating the influence of the laser field with various laser parameters on the electron dynamics, it is found the electronic state can be changed up and down by choosing the appropriate laser pulses and the coherent control of the two-colour laser pulses can substantially modify the behaviour of the electronic dynamics: a quicker change of two states can be produced even for small pulse duration. Moreover, the oscillatory structures around the resonant frequency and the propagation features of the laser pulses depend sensitively on the relative phase of the two-colour laser pulses. Finally, the influence of a finite lifetime of the upper level is discussed in brief.

Effects on the proton production from explosions of hydrogen clusters subjected to intense femtosecond laser fields

The dependence of the maximum and average energies of protons, which were produced in the interaction of an intense laser pulse (similar to 1 x 10(16) W cm(-2), 65 fs) with hydrogen clusters in a gas jet backed up to 80 bar at liquid nitrogen temperature (similar to 80 K), on the backing pressure has been studied. The general trend of the proton energy dependence on the square of the average cluster radius, which is determined by a calibrated Rayleigh scattering measurement, is similar to that described by theory under the single size approximation. Calculations are made to fit the experimental results under a simplified model by taking into account both a log-normal cluster size distribution and the laser intensity attenuation in the interaction volume. A very good agreement between the experimental proton energy spectra and the calculations is obtained in the high- energy part of the proton energy distributions, but a discrepancy of the fits is revealed in the low-energy part at higher backing pressures which are associated with denser flows. A possible mechanism which would be responsible for this discrepancy is discussed. Finally, from the fits, a variation of the cluster size distributions was revealed to be dependent on the gas backing pressure as well as on the evolving time of the gas flow of clusters.

Multistaged acceleration of ions by circularly polarized laser pulse: Monoenergetic ion beam generation

A multiple-staged ion acceleration mechanism in the interaction of a circularly polarized laser pulse with a solid target is studied by one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation. The ions are accelerated from rest to several MeV monoenergetically at the front surface of the target. After all the plasma ions are accelerated, the acceleration process is repeated on the resulting monoenergetic ions. Under suitable conditions multiple repetitions can be realized and a high-energy quasi-monoenergetic ion beam can be obtained.

Electron acceleration by a propagating laser pulse in vacuum

Electrons accelerated by a propagating laser pulse of linear or circular polarization in vacuum have been investigated by one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations and analytical modeling. A stopping target is used to stop the laser pulse and extract the energetic electrons from the laser field. The effect of the reflected light is taken into account. The maximum electron energy depends on the laser intensity and initial electron energy. There is an optimal acceleration length for electrons to gain maximum energy where electrons meet the peak of the laser pulse. The optimal acceleration length depends strongly on the laser pulse duration and amplitude. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Effect of plasma temperature on electrostatic shock generation and ion acceleration by laser

The effect of plasma temperature on electrostatic shock generated by a circularly polarized laser pulse in overdense plasma is studied by particle-in-cell simulation. Ion reflection and transmission in the collisionless electrostatic shock (CES) are investigated analytically. As the initial ion temperature is varied, a distinct transition from the laser-driven piston scenario with all ions being reflected to the CES scenario with partial ion reflection is found. The results show that at low but finite temperatures the ions are much more accelerated than if they were cold.

Efficient GeV ion generation by ultraintense circularly polarized laser pulse

The interaction of an ultraintense circularly polarized laser pulse and a solid target is studied by one-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Ions at the front of the target are reflected by a moving quasisteady electrostatic field and obtain a relativistic velocity. At a laser intensity of 10(22) W/cm(2), almost half of the laser energy is transferred to ions and GeV ions are obtained. Effects of laser polarization state and target thickness on the laser energy conversion are investigated. It is found that a circularly polarized laser pulse can accelerate ions more efficiently than a linearly polarized laser pulse at the same laser and target parameters. A monoenergetic ion bunch is obtained for the ultrathin target, which is accelerated as a single entity. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.