Interaction of Short Petawatt Laser Pulses with Plasma
- Theory and Simulations

Laserlab Europe Workshop

Georg-Christoph-Lichtenberg-Haus, Darmstadt
October 14 - 17, 2007 -
Registered Participants Information

Title:	Dr.
Last Name:	Kumar
First Name:	Naveen
E-Mail:	kumartp1.uni-duesseldorf.de
Affiliation for Badge:	Universität Düsseldorf
Institute:	Institut fuer Theoretische Physik I
Address (Street):	Universitätsstr. 1, Geb. 25.32.
Postal Code, City:	D-40225, Duesseldorf
Country:	Germany
Phone:	+49 (0) 211 811 1754
Fax:
Author(s):	Naveen Kumar, A. Pukhov
Institute(s):	Institut fuer Theoretische Physik I, Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet, Duesseldorf
Title:	New class of self-similar solutions for vacuum plasma expansion
Abstract:	We report a new class of self-similar solutions for plasma expanding into vacuum that allows for quasi-monoenergetic ion spectra. A simple analytical model takes into account externally controlled time-dependent temperature of the hot electrons. When the laser temporal profile is tailored properly, the quasi-neutral self-similar expansion of the plasma results in ion concentration in the phase-space at a particular velocity thus producing a quasi-monoenergetic spectrum. We prove this analytical prediction using a 1D partice-in-cell (PIC) simulation where the time-dependent plasma temperature is controlled by two laser pulses shot at a foil at a suitable time delay.