Stochastic electron heating in an interference field of several laser pulses of a picosecond duration

0501500 - FZÚ 2019 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Bochkarev, S.G. - d'Humieres, E. - Tikhonchuk, Vladimir - Korneev, Ph. - Bychenkov, V.Yu.
Stochastic electron heating in an interference field of several laser pulses of a picosecond duration.
Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. Roč. 61, č. 2 (2019), s. 1-12, č. článku 025015. ISSN 0741-3335. E-ISSN 1361-6587
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT EF16_013/0001793
Grant - others:OP VVV - ELITAS(XE) CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_013/0001793
Institutional support: RVO:68378271
Keywords : acceleration * driven * stochastic acceleration * intense laser pulses * superthermal particles * direct electron acceleration * distribution function * diffusion coefficient
OECD category: Fluids and plasma physics (including surface physics)
Impact factor: 2.829, year: 2019
Method of publishing: Limited access

Efficient electron acceleration and heating is demonstrated in a multimode structure created by interference of several laser beams of a relativistic intensity and a picosecond duration near a sharp target boundary. Electron energization proceeds in two steps, with a slow stochastic heating followed by a fast regular acceleration in a resonance interaction with one of wave packets. It results in formation of a population of energetic electrons with an exponential distribution in energy characterized by a high effective temperature and a sharp cutoff. Hot electron characteristics depend on the number of crossing laser beams and their respective angles. This process is an example of efficient electron heating in vacuum by electromagnetic fields without participation of electrostatic plasma waves. It might contribute to creation of a superthermal particle population with an effective temperature significantly exceeding the common ponderomotive scaling.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0293523