Short-pulse, laser–plasma interaction including collisions and ionization

Abstract

A computational approach for simulations in the emerging field of short-pulse (τ<1 psec), high-intensity (I=1017–1019 W/cm2 ) laser–plasma interactions is introduced. The approach is a particle-in-cell method (PIC) which, as unique features, incorporates electron–ion collisions at relativistic energies and the time variation of the ionization state of the plasma. This has been incorporated into the wave two-dimensional plasma simulation code [Phys. Fluids 18, 1017 (1975)] for the purpose of simulating experiments at the Los Alamos Bright Source facilities [Phys. Rev. A 39, 454 (1989)]. However, the computational methods should be useful for work in laser fusion and other areas where rapid ionization occurs.