High-intensity laser-induced electron acceleration in vacuum

In this paper, an approximate pulsed-laser-beam solution of Maxwell's equat ion in vacuum is derived. Then with the numerical simulation method, electr on acceleration induced by high-intensity [Q(0) = eE(0)/(m(e)wc) = 3] laser s is discussed in connection with the recent experiment of Malka et al. It is found that the maximum energy gain and the relationship between the fina l energy and the scattering angle can be well reproduced, but the polarizat ion effect of electron-laser interactions is not very prominent. These resu lts show that the ponderomotive potential model is still applicable, which means that the stimulated Compton scattering is the main fundamental mechan ism responsible for the electron acceleration at this laser intensity. [S10 63-651X(99)09012-1].