Hydrodynamic Simulation of Laser-Driven Generation of Fast High-Density Plasma Blocks

Abstract

The laser‐induced skin‐layer ponderomotive acceleration (S‐LPA) is considered to be an efficient method of producing dense plasma blocks of very high ion current densities (⩾1010A/cm2) and ion beam intensities having the potential to be applied in high energy density physics or for fast ignition of fusion targets. In this contribution properties of plasma blocks generation by S‐LPA are studied using a two‐fluid relativistic hydrodynamic model of laser‐plasma interaction. The main mechanisms, which lead to the generation of high current density ion beams are briefly described and illustrated by numerical calculations performed for the subpicosecond neodymium‐glass laser pulses of intensities up to 1019W/cm2 interacting with inhomogeneous hydrogen plasma. The impact of the relativistic effects (e.g. the relativistic change of critical electron density, the appearance of higher harmonics) as well as laser light polarisation on plasma block generation is analysed.