TY - JOUR

T1 - Interaction of a high-intensity ultrashort laser pulse with extended nanofilaments of dense plasma

AU - Andreev, A. A.

AU - Platonov, K. Yu

PY - 2014/8

Y1 - 2014/8

N2 - Generation and propagation of fast electrons in laser targets consisting of thin nanofilaments are studied numerically and analytically. Such targets completely absorb laser radiation and exhibit a large coefficient of laser-energy conversion to kinetic energy of a flow of fast electrons. Analytical estimates show that the optimal thickness of the filament is on the order of the skin depth of the laser plasma, while an optimal distance between filaments is on the order of the Debye radius of hot electrons. A bunch of relativistic electrons can propagate as far as several hundred micrometers in such targets, while the fastest electrons can propagate several millimeters. Upon bending of filaments, the flow of electrons propagates along the filaments and can be focused by bringing the filaments together. Laser targets of the discussed composition are used as sources of dense bunches of relativistic electrons and subsequent generation of high-intensity X-ray radiation with their help.

AB - Generation and propagation of fast electrons in laser targets consisting of thin nanofilaments are studied numerically and analytically. Such targets completely absorb laser radiation and exhibit a large coefficient of laser-energy conversion to kinetic energy of a flow of fast electrons. Analytical estimates show that the optimal thickness of the filament is on the order of the skin depth of the laser plasma, while an optimal distance between filaments is on the order of the Debye radius of hot electrons. A bunch of relativistic electrons can propagate as far as several hundred micrometers in such targets, while the fastest electrons can propagate several millimeters. Upon bending of filaments, the flow of electrons propagates along the filaments and can be focused by bringing the filaments together. Laser targets of the discussed composition are used as sources of dense bunches of relativistic electrons and subsequent generation of high-intensity X-ray radiation with their help.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84907326474&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1134/S0030400X14080037

DO - 10.1134/S0030400X14080037

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84907326474

VL - 117

SP - 287

EP - 303

JO - OPTICS AND SPECTROSCOPY

JF - OPTICS AND SPECTROSCOPY

SN - 0030-400X

IS - 2

ER -