Lateral electron transport in high-intensity laser-irradiated foils diagnosed by ion emission

Summary, in English

An experimental investigation of lateral electron transport in thin metallic foil targets irradiated by ultraintense (>= 10(19) W/cm(2)) laser pulses is reported. Two-dimensional spatially resolved ion emission measurements are used to quantify electric-field generation resulting from electron transport. The measurement of large electric fields (similar to 0.1 TV/m) millimeters from the laser focus reveals that lateral energy transport continues long after the laser pulse has decayed. Numerical simulations confirm a very strong enhancement of electron density and electric field at the edges of the target.

• Author: P. McKenna; D. C. Carroll; R. J. Clarke; R. G. Evans; K. W. D. Ledingham; Filip Lindau; Olle Lundh; T. McCanny; D. Neely; A. P. L. Robinson; L. Robson; P. T. Simpson; Claes-Göran Wahlström; M. Zepf
• Department/s: Atomic Physics
• Publishing year: 2007
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: Physical Review Letters
• Volume: 98
• Issue: 14
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.145001
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Topic: Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1079-7114