The consequences of small scale-length precursor plasmas on high-intensity laser-driven relativistic electrons are studied via experiments and simulations. Longer scale-length plasmas are shown to dramatically increase the efficiency of electron acceleration, yet, if too long, they reduce the coupling of these electrons into the solid target. Evidence for the existence of an optimal plasma scale-length is presented and estimated to be from 1 to $5\mu \mathrm{m}$. Experiments on the Trident laser $\left(I=5\times {10}^{19}\mathrm{W}/{\mathrm{cm}}^2\right)$ diagnosed via $\mathrm{K}\alpha$ emission from Cu wires attached to Au cones are quantitively reproduced using 2D particle-in-cell simulations that capture the full temporal and spatial scale of the nonlinear laser interaction and electron transport. The simulations indicate that $32\%\pm 8\%(6.5\%\pm 2\%)$ of the laser energy is coupled into electrons of all energies (1–3 MeV) reaching the inner cone tip and that, with an optimized scale-length, this could increase to 35% (9%).

• Received 14 June 2013
• Revised 24 November 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.92.063112