SUBPICOSECOND KRF-ASTERISK-LASER PLASMA INTERACTION AT INTENSITIES BETWEEN 10(14)-W CM(2) AND 10(17)-W/CM(2)/

The interaction of high-intensity subpicosecond KrF-laser pulses with aluminium plasmas is investigated at intensities between 10(14) and 1 0(17) W/cm(2). rising a one-dimensional hydrocode, the laser energy ab sorption and time evolution of plasma parameters have been studied as a function of laser intensity, incidence angle, and polarization. Comp lementary particle-in-cell simulations have also been performed to che ck the collisionless absorption component carried by hot electrons and ions. These simulations are compared to previous experiments on laser pulse absorption and x-ray generation. (C) 1996 American Institute of Physics.