Self-focusing, channel formation, and high-energy ion generation in interaction of an intense short laser pulse with a He jet

Using interferometry, we investigate the dynamics of interaction of a relativistically intense 4-TW, 400-fs laser pulse with a He gas jet. We observe a stable plasma channel 1 mm long and less than 30 microm in diameter, with a radial gradient of electron density approximately 5 x 10(22) cm(-4) and...

Ausführliche Beschreibung

Bibliographische Detailangaben
Veröffentlicht in:Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics. - 1993. - 59(1999), 6 vom: 30. Juni, Seite 7042-54
1. Verfasser: Sarkisov, G S (VerfasserIn)
Weitere Verfasser: Bychenkov, V Y, Novikov, V N, Tikhonchuk, V T, Maksimchuk, A, Chen, S Y, Wagner, R, Mourou, G, Umstadter, D
Format: Aufsatz
Sprache:English
Veröffentlicht: 1999
Zugriff auf das übergeordnete Werk:Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics
Schlagworte:Journal Article
Beschreibung
Zusammenfassung:Using interferometry, we investigate the dynamics of interaction of a relativistically intense 4-TW, 400-fs laser pulse with a He gas jet. We observe a stable plasma channel 1 mm long and less than 30 microm in diameter, with a radial gradient of electron density approximately 5 x 10(22) cm(-4) and with an on-axis electron density approximately ten times less than its maximum value of 8 x 10(19) cm(-3). A high radial velocity of the surrounding gas ionization of approximately 3.8 x 10(8) cm/s has been observed after the channel formation, and it is attributed to the fast ions expelled from the laser channel and propagating radially outward. We developed a kinetic model which describes the plasma channel formation and the subsequent ambient gas excitation and ionization. Comparing the model predictions with the interferometric data, we reconstructed the axial profile of laser channel and on-axis laser intensity. The estimated maximum energy of accelerated ions is about 500 keV, and the total energy of the fast ions is 5% of the laser pulse energy
Beschreibung:Date Completed 24.06.2002
Date Revised 28.07.2019
published: Print
Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE
ISSN:1063-651X