Azimuthal asymmetry in collective electron dynamics in relativistically transparent laser-foil interactions

Gray, Ross and MacLellan, David and Izquierdo, Bruno and Powell, Haydn and Carroll, David and Murphy, C.D. and Stockhausen, L.C. and Rusby, Dean and Scott, G. and Wilson, R. and Booth, Nicola and Symes, Dan and Hawkes, S. and Torres, R and Borghesi, M. and McKenna, Paul (2014) Azimuthal asymmetry in collective electron dynamics in relativistically transparent laser-foil interactions. New Journal of Physics, 16. 093027. ISSN 1367-2630 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/16/9/093027)

[thumbnail of Gray-etal-NJP2014-azimuthal-asymmetry-in-collective-electron-dynamics]
Preview
 PDF. Filename: Gray_etal_NJP2014_azimuthal_asymmetry_in_collective_electron_dynamics.pdf
Final Published Version
License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 logo
Download (1MB)| Preview

Abstract

Asymmetry in the collective dynamics of ponderomotively-driven electrons in the interaction of an ultraintense laser pulse with a relativistically transparent target is demonstrated experimentally. The 2D prole of the beam of accelerated electrons is shown to change from an ellipse aligned along the laser polarisation direction in the case of limited transparency, to a double-lobe structure aligned perpendicular to it when a significant fraction of the laser pulse co-propagates with the electrons. The temporally-resolved dynamics of the interaction are investigated via particle-in-cell simulations. The results provide new insight into the collective response of charged particles to intense laser fields over an extended interaction volume, which is important for a wide range of applications, and in particular for the development of promising new ultraintense laser-driven ion acceleration mechanisms involving ultrathin target foils.

ORCID iDs

Gray, Ross ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0610-9595, MacLellan, David, Izquierdo, Bruno, Powell, Haydn, Carroll, David, Murphy, C.D., Stockhausen, L.C., Rusby, Dean ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8324-729X, Scott, G., Wilson, R., Booth, Nicola, Symes, Dan, Hawkes, S., Torres, R, Borghesi, M. and McKenna, Paul ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8061-7091;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:49451
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    23 September 2014
    Published
    19 August 2014
    Accepted
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:01 Oct 2014 09:56
    Last modified:11 Nov 2024 10:47
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/49451
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)