Abstract
A novel non-ponderomotive absorption mechanism, originally presented by Baeva et al. [Phys. Plasmas 18, 056702 (2011)] in one dimension, is extended into higher dimensions for the first time. This absorption mechanism, the Zero Vector Potential (ZVP), is expected to dominate the interactions of ultra-intense laser pulses with critically over-dense plasmas such as those that are expected with the Extreme Light Infrastructure laser systems. It is shown that the mathematical form of the ZVP mechanism and its key scaling relations found by Baeva et al. in 1D are identically reproduced in higher dimensions. The two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are then used to validate both the qualitative and quantitative predictions of the theory.
Highlights
The completion and commissioning in the near future of multi-PW laser systems will soon allow a wealth of new physics to be studied for the first time
Plasmas 18, 056702 (2011)] in one dimension, is extended into higher dimensions for the first time. This absorption mechanism, the Zero Vector Potential (ZVP), is expected to dominate the interactions of ultra-intense laser pulses with critically over-dense plasmas such as those that are expected with the Extreme Light Infrastructure laser systems
It is shown that the mathematical form of the ZVP mechanism and its key scaling relations found by Baeva et al in 1D are identically reproduced in higher dimensions
Summary
The completion and commissioning in the near future of multi-PW laser systems ( those in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Romania via the Extreme Light Infrastructure project and the Apollon laser in France2) will soon allow a wealth of new physics to be studied for the first time. New physics at the intensity frontier includes the onset of pair production via non-linear QED processes; multiGeV acceleration of electron bunches in laser wakefield accelerators; ion beam characterisation via radiation pressure acceleration, channel formation, and hole-boring, and coherent harmonic generation and focusing, among many others. All of these topics benefit from a fundamental understanding of the energy absorption processes that occur under extreme intensities. Future applications that will benefit from this new understanding, such as coherent attosecond X-ray harmonic generation and focusing, concludes the paper
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