Slowdown mechanisms of ultraintense laser propagation in critical density plasma

T. Iwawaki, H. Habara, T. Yabuuchi, M. Hata, H. Sakagami, and K. A. Tanaka
Phys. Rev. E 92, 013106 – Published 27 July 2015

Abstract

We use one- and two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations to demonstrate that the propagation of an ultraintense laser (I=1019W/cm2) 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.

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  • Received 16 July 2014
  • Revised 31 March 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.92.013106

©2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

T. Iwawaki1, H. Habara1, T. Yabuuchi1,*, M. Hata2,†, H. Sakagami3, and K. A. Tanaka1

  • 1Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Yamada-oka 2-1, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
  • 2Department of Physics, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-8602, Japan
  • 3Fundamental Physics Simulation Division, National Institute of Fusion Science, Toki, Gifu 509-5292, Japan

  • *Present address: RIKEN SPring-8 Center, 1-1-1 Kouto, Sayo-cho, Sayo-gun, Hyogo 679-5148, Japan.
  • Present address: Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Yamada-oka 2-6, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.

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Vol. 92, Iss. 1 — July 2015

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