Electron sheath dynamic in the laser–foil interaction

Abstract

AbstractIn the interaction of ultra-short and ultra-intense high contrast laser pulse with a dense foil, accelerating electron sheath is formed. The dynamic of this sheath is obtained according to the ponderomotive force of the laser pulse and restoring electrostatic force of the stationary heavy ions. In the transient dynamics, maximum electron sheath displacement is obtained for different interaction parameters. This maximum displacement has an important effect in the explanation of the electron blow out condition. It is shown numerically that the electron sheath maximum displacement increases with increasing laser pulse amplitude or decreasing its rise time, or by decreasing plasma electron density. Recently, backward MeV acceleration of electrons in the interaction of intense laser pulse with solid targets was observed. The ponderomotive force of the compressed reflected laser pulse includes in our formalism and is used for explanation of the electron's backward acceleration. The threshold values of the interaction parameters for the occurrence of this phenomenon are considered. The electron blow out condition and backward acceleration are accompanied with numerical modeling and 1D3V, particle-in-cell simulation code.