PLASMA FORMATION ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF PLASTIC TARGETS DUE TO HIGH-INTENSITY LASER-GENERATED FAST ELECTRONS

Authors
TATARAKIS M DAVIES JR LEE P NORREYS PA KASSAPAKIS NG BEG FN BELL AR HAINES MG DANGOR AE
Citation
M. Tatarakis et al., PLASMA FORMATION ON THE FRONT AND REAR OF PLASTIC TARGETS DUE TO HIGH-INTENSITY LASER-GENERATED FAST ELECTRONS, Physical review letters, 81(5), 1998, pp. 999-1002
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
Physical review letters → ACNP
ISSN journal
00319007
Volume
81
Issue
5
Year of publication
1998
Pages
999 - 1002
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(1998)81:5<999:PFOTFA>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
Novel features of plasma generation by 1 ps, 1 mu m, similar to 10(19) W cm(-2) laser pulses on thick plastic targets are presented: (i) The electron distribution in the ablated plasma has a minimum along the t arget normal which persists long after the laser pulse (>1 ns); (ii) a narrow plasma jet is formed at the rear surface after a few picosecon ds, in line with the laser focus. This is consistent with a beam of fa st electrons traveling through the target, collimated by a magnetic fi eld in the target.