Electromagnetic Energy Penetration in the Self-Induced Transparency Regime of Relativistic Laser-Plasma Interactions
- 11 December 2001
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review Letters
- Vol. 87 (27), 275002
- https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.87.275002
Abstract
Two qualitatively different scenarios for the penetration of relativistically intense laser radiation into an overdense plasma, accessible by self-induced transparency, are presented. In the first one, penetration of laser energy occurs by solitonlike structures moving into the plasma. This scenario occurs at plasma densities less than approximately 1.5 times the critical one (depending on ion mass). At higher background densities, laser light penetrates only over a finite length which increases with incident intensity. In this regime the plasma-field structures represent alternating electron (and, on longer time scales, ion) layers separated by about half a wavelength of cavitation with concomitant strong charge separation.Keywords
This publication has 27 references indexed in Scilit:
- Bursts of Superreflected Laser Light from Inhomogeneous Plasmas due to the Generation of Relativistic Solitary WavesPhysical Review Letters, 1999
- Particle-in-cell simulations of ultra intense laser pulses propagating through overdense plasma for fast-ignitor and radiography applicationsPhysics of Plasmas, 1999
- Absorption of ultrashort, ultra-intense laser light by solids and overdense plasmasIEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics, 1997
- Laser Hole Boring into Overdense Plasma and Relativistic Electron Currents for Fast Ignition of ICF TargetsPhysical Review Letters, 1997
- Anomalous Absorption of Very High-Intensity Laser Pulses Propagating through Moderately Dense PlasmaPhysical Review Letters, 1997
- Anomalous penetration mechanisms of very intense laser pulses into overdense plasmasPhysical Review E, 1996
- Propagation of ultraintense laser pulses through overdense plasma layersPhysics of Plasmas, 1996
- Transparency/Opacity of a Solid Target Illuminated by an Ultrahigh-Intensity Laser PulsePhysical Review Letters, 1995
- Ignition and high gain with ultrapowerful lasers*Physics of Plasmas, 1994
- Absorption of ultra-intense laser pulsesPhysical Review Letters, 1992