Highly efficient terahertz radiation from a thin foil irradiated by a high-contrast laser pulse

Z. Jin, H. B. Zhuo, T. Nakazawa, J. H. Shin, S. Wakamatsu, N. Yugami, T. Hosokai, D. B. Zou, M. Y. Yu, Z. M. Sheng, and R. Kodama
Phys. Rev. E 94, 033206 – Published 21 September 2016

Abstract

Radially polarized intense terahertz (THz) radiation behind a thin foil irradiated by ultrahigh-contrast ultrashort relativistic laser pulse is recorded by a single-shot THz time-domain spectroscopy system. As the thickness of the target is reduced from 30 to 2 µm, the duration of the THz emission increases from 5 to over 20 ps and the radiation energy increases dramatically, reaching 10.5mJ per pulse, corresponding to a laser-to-THz radiation energy conversion efficiency of 1.7%. The efficient THz emission can be attributed to reflection (deceleration and acceleration) of the laser-driven hot electrons by the target-rear sheath electric field. The experimental results are consistent with that of a simple model as well as particle-in-cell simulation.

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  • Received 3 February 2016
  • Revised 27 April 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.94.033206

©2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Plasma Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Z. Jin1,*, H. B. Zhuo2,3,†, T. Nakazawa4, J. H. Shin4, S. Wakamatsu4, N. Yugami5, T. Hosokai1, D. B. Zou2, M. Y. Yu6, Z. M. Sheng3,7,8, and R. Kodama1,4,9

  • 1Photon Pioneers Center, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
  • 2College of Science, National University of Defense Technology, Changsha 410073, People's Republic of China
  • 3Collaborative Innovation Center of IFSA, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
  • 4Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
  • 5Department of Advanced Interdisciplinary Sciences, Center for Optical Research & Education, and Optical Technology Innovation Center, Utsunomiya University, Yoto 7-1-2, Utsunomiya, Tochigi, 321-8585, Japan
  • 6Institute for Fusion Theory and Simulation and Department of Physics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, People's Republic of China and Institute of Theoretical Physics I, Ruhr University, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
  • 7SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G0 4NG, United Kingdom
  • 8Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (Ministry of Education) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, People's Republic of China
  • 9Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan

  • *jin-z@ppc.osaka-u.ac.jp
  • hongbin.zhuo@gmail.com

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Vol. 94, Iss. 3 — September 2016

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