Ultraintense laser-produced fast-electron propagation in gas jets

We study the propagation of fast electrons in a gas at different densities. A large relativistic electron current is produced by focusing a short-pulse ultrahigh-intensity laser on a metallic target. It then propagates in a gas jet placed behind the foil. Shadowgraphy in the gas shows an electron cl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Physical review letters 2005-02, Vol.94 (5), p.055004.1-055004.4, Article 055004
Main Authors: BATANI, D, BATON, S. D, HALL, T, MALKA, V, COWAN, T. E, KING, J, FREEMAN, R. R, KEY, M, STEPHENS, R, MANCLOSSI, M, SANTOS, J. J, AMIRANOFF, F, KOENIG, M, MARTINOLLI, E, ANTONICCI, A, ROUSSEAUX, C, RABEC LE GLOAHEC, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Exact sciences and technology
Laser-plasma acceleration of electrons and ions
Laser-plasma interactions
Magnetic reconnection
Optics
Physics
Physics of gases, plasmas and electric discharges
Physics of plasmas and electric discharges
Waves, oscillations, and instabilities in plasmas and intense beams
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Summary:We study the propagation of fast electrons in a gas at different densities. A large relativistic electron current is produced by focusing a short-pulse ultrahigh-intensity laser on a metallic target. It then propagates in a gas jet placed behind the foil. Shadowgraphy in the gas shows an electron cloud moving at sub-relativistic average velocities. The experiment shows (i) the essential role of the density of background material for allowing propagation of fast electrons, (ii) the importance of the ionization phase which produces free electrons available for the return current, and (iii) the effect of electrostatic fields on fast-electron propagation.
ISSN:0031-9007
1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.055004