Basics of Laser-Plasma Interaction: A Selection of Topics
Year: 2019
Authors: Macchi A.
Autors Affiliation: 1. National Institute of Optics, National Research Council (CNR/INO)Adriano Gozzini laboratoryPisaItaly
2.Enrico Fermi Department of PhysicsUniversity of PisaPisaItaly
Abstract: A short, tutorial introduction to some basic concepts of laser-plasma interactions at ultra-high intensities is given. The selected topics include (a) elements of the relativistic dynamics of an electron in electromagnetic fields, including the ponderomotives force and classical radiation friction; (b) the “relativistic” nonlinear optical transparency and self-focusing; (c) the moving mirror concept and its application to light sail acceleration and high harmonic generation, with a note on related instabilities; (d) some specific phenomena related to the absorption of energy, kinetic momentum and angular momentum from the laser light.
[Chapter 2, pp. 25-49, in “Laser-Driven Sources of High Energy Particles and Radiation. Springer Proceedings in Physics, vol 231. Springer, Cham. ISBN 978-3-030-25849-8], https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25850-4_2
Journal/Review: JOURNAL OF THE OPTICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA B-OPTICAL PHYSICS
KeyWords: laser-plasma interaction, laser-plasma theory, radiation pressure