Radiation pressure acceleration of ultrathin foils

Year: 2010

Authors: Macchi A., Veghini S., Liseykina T.V, Pegoraro F.

Autors Affiliation: Dept Phys E Fermi, I-56127 Pisa, Italy; INO, CNR, Pisa, Italy; Max Planck Inst Nucl Phys, D-69117 Heidelberg, Germany; SD RAS, Inst Computat Technol, Novosibirsk, Russia; Consorzio Nazl Interuniv Sci Fis Mat CNISM, Unita Ric Pisa, Pisa, Italy.

Abstract: The acceleration of sub-wavelength, solid-density plasma foils by the ultraintense radiation pressure of circularly polarized laser pulses is investigated analytically and with simulations. An improved ’Light Sail’ or accelerating mirror model, accounting for nonlinear self-induced transparency effects, is used for estimating the optimal thickness for acceleration. The model predictions are in good agreement with one-dimensional simulations. These latter are analyzed in detail to unfold the dynamics and self-organization of electrons and ions during the acceleration. Two-dimensional simulations are also performed to address the effects of target bending and of laser intensity inhomogeneity.

Journal/Review: NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS

Volume: 12      Pages from: 45013-1  to: 45013-18

More Information: Support from CNR via an RSTL project and use of supercomputing facilities at CINECA (Bologna, Italy) sponsored by the CNR/INFM supercomputing initiative are acknowledged.
KeyWords: Circularly polarized laser pulse; Laser intensities; Mirror model; Model prediction; One-dimensional simulations; Optimal thickness; Radiation pressure; Radiation pressure accelerations; Self-induced transparency; Self-organizations; Solid density plasmas; Sub-wavelength; Two-dimensional simulations; Ultra-thin
DOI: 10.1088/1367-2630/12/4/045013

Citations: 120
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