Abstract
Laser hole boring and relativistic electron transport into plasma of 10 times critical density is studied by means of 2D particle-in-cell simulation. At intensities of , a channel deep and in diameter has formed after 200 laser cycles. The laser driven electron current carries up to 40% of the incident laser power. When penetrating the overdense region, it breaks up into several filaments at early times, but is channeled into a single magnetized jet later on. These features are essential for fast ignition of targets for inertial confinement fusion (ICF).
- Received 28 April 1997
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.79.2686
©1997 American Physical Society