Abstract
The dynamics and generation of surface structures in intense laser interaction with overdense plasmas is studied numerically and analytically. The dynamics of two-dimensional (2D) electron surface oscillations (ESOs) has been resolved in particle-in-cell simulations, showing a “period doubling” effect with respect to the driving magnetic force of the laser. A new parametric process, in which a 1D electrostatic oscillation decays into two electromagnetic surface waves, has been investigated analytically and provides a mechanism for the generation of ESOs. For oblique laser incidence and p-polarization generation of subharmonic surface waves is also predicted. The possible impact of surface deformations on fast electron generation and disruption of plasma “moving mirrors” for high harmonic generation is discussed.
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