Abstract
We report the lifetime of intense-laser (2×10^{19} W/cm^{2}) generated relativistic electron pulses in solids by measuring the time evolution of their Cherenkov emission. Using a picosecond resolution optical Kerr gating technique, we demonstrate that the electrons remain relativistic as long as 50 picoseconds-more than 1000 times longer than the incident light pulse. Numerical simulations of the propagation of relativistic electrons and the emitted Cherenkov radiation with MonteCarlo geant4 package reproduce the striking experimental findings.
Highlights
Multiterawatt femtosecond lasers can accelerate electrons on a solid surface to near-light speeds
We report the lifetime of intense-laser (2 × 1019 W=cm2) generated relativistic electron pulses in solids by measuring the time evolution of their Cherenkov emission
Using a picosecond resolution optical Kerr gating technique, we demonstrate that the electrons remain relativistic as long as 50 picoseconds—more than 1000 times longer than the incident light pulse
Summary
Multiterawatt femtosecond lasers can accelerate electrons on a solid surface to near-light speeds. We report the lifetime of intense-laser (2 × 1019 W=cm2) generated relativistic electron pulses in solids by measuring the time evolution of their Cherenkov emission. Measuring the Cherenkov emission as a function of target thickness [Fig. 2(a)] can yield information on the energy distribution of the hot-electron population.
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