Li G, Yan R, Ren C, Wang TL, Tonge J, Mori WB. Laser channeling in millimeter-scale underdense plasmas of fast-ignition targets.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2008;
100:125002. [PMID:
18517876 DOI:
10.1103/physrevlett.100.125002]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2007] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that laser channeling in millimeter-scale underdense plasmas is a highly nonlinear and dynamic process involving longitudinal plasma buildup, laser hosing, channel bifurcation and self-correction, and electron heating to relativistic temperatures. The channeling speed is much less than the linear group velocity of the laser. The simulations find that low-intensity channeling pulses are preferred to minimize the required laser energy but with an estimated lower bound on the intensity of I approximately 5x10(18) W/cm(2) if the channel is to be established within 100 ps. The channel is also shown to significantly increase the transmission of an ignition pulse.
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