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Time evolution of solid-density plasma during and after irradiation by a short, intense laser pulse

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 May 2012

Shixia Luan*
Affiliation:
Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
Wei Yu
Affiliation:
Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Masakatsu Murakami
Affiliation:
Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Hongbin Zhuo
Affiliation:
College of Science, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, China
Mingyang Yu
Affiliation:
Institute for Fusion Theory and Simulation, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China Institute for Theoretical Physics I, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany
Guangjin Ma
Affiliation:
Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
Kunioki Mima
Affiliation:
Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Shixia Luan, 390 Qinghe Road, Jiading, Shanghai 201800, China. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

A two-dimensional theoretical model for the evolution of solid-density plasma irradiated by short, intense laser pulse is introduced. The electrons near the target surface are pushed inward by the radiation pressure, leading to a receding electron density jump where the laser is reflected. The electrostatic field of the resulting charge separation eventually balances the radiation pressure at the laser peak. After that the charge separation field becomes dominant. It accelerates and compresses the ions that are left behind until they merge with the compressed electrons, resulting in a high-density plasma peak. The laser pulse reflected from the receding electron density jump loses energy in plasma and suffers Doppler frequency red-shift, which can provide valuable information on the laser absorption rate and the speed of the receding electrons. Electron oscillations, including the u × B oscillations across the density jump at twice the laser frequency during the laser action, as well as the low-frequency oscillations appearing after laser action, are identified.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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