Abstract
We use one- and two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations to demonstrate that the propagation of an ultraintense laser in critical density plasma can be interfered with by a high density plasma wall region generated at the propagation front. When the electron flow speed of the wall region exceeds a certain relativistic threshold, the region behaves as an overdense plasma due to a decrease of the effective critical density. The region forms then very small overdense plasma islands. The islands impede the propagation intermittently and slow down the propagation speed significantly.
- Received 16 July 2014
- Revised 31 March 2015
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.92.013106
©2015 American Physical Society