arXiv subjects

H. Ruhl

Publications and source records attributed to H. Ruhl.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

QED cascades induced by circularly polarized laser fields

The results of Monte-Carlo simulations of electron-positron-photon cascades initiated by slow electrons in circularly polarized fields of ultra-high strength are presented and discussed. Our results confirm previous qualitative estimations [A.M. Fedotov, et al., PRL 105, 080402 (2010)] of the formation of cascades. This sort of cascades has revealed the new property of the restoration of energy and dynamical quantum parameter due to the acceleration of electrons and positrons by the field and may become a dominating feature of laser-matter interactions at ultra-high intensities. Our approach incorporates radiation friction acting on individual electrons and positrons.

hep-ph↗

arXiv2010

Plasma surface dynamics and smoothing in the relativistic few-cycle regime

In laser-plasma interactions it is widely accepted that a non-uniform interaction surface will invariably seed hydrodynamic instabilities and a growth in the amplitude of the initial modulation. Recent experimental results [Dromey, Nat. Phys. 2009] have demonstrated that there must be target smoothing in femtosecond timescale relativistic interactions, contrary to prevailing expectation. In this paper we develop a theoretical description of the physical process that underlies this novel phenomena. We show that the surface dynamics in the few-cycle relativistic regime is dominated by the coherent electron motion resulting in a smoothing of the electron surface. This stabilization of plasma surfaces is unique in laser-plasma interactions and demonstrates that dynamics in the few-cycle regime differ fundamentally from the longer pulse regimes. This has important consequences for applications such as radiation pressure acceleration of protons and ions and harmonic generation from relativistically oscillating surfaces.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2008

Absorption of Ultrashort Laser Pulses in Strongly Overdense Targets

We report on the first absorption experiments of sub-10 fs high-contrast Ti:Sa laser pulses incident on solid targets. The very good contrast of the laser pulse assures the formation of a very small pre-plasma and the pulse interacts with the matter close to solid density. Experimental results indicate that p-polarized laser pulses are absorbed up to 80 percent at 80 degrees incidence angle. The simulation results of PSC PIC code clearly confirm the observations and show that the collisionless absorption works efficiently in steep density profiles.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2008

Collisionless Absorption of Intense Laser Beams by Anharmonic Resonance

Two decades after the invention of chirped pulse amplification the physical mechanism of collisionless absorption of intense laser radiation in overdense matter is still not sufficiently well understood. We show that anharmonic resonance in the self-generated plasma potential of the single plasma layers (cold plasma model) or of the individual electrons (warm plasma), respectively, constitutes the leading physical mechanism of collisionless absorption in an overdense plasma. Analogously to collisions, resonance provides for the finite phase shift of the free electron current relative to the driving laser field which is compulsory for energy transfer from the laser beam to any medium. An efficient new scenario of wave breaking is also indicated.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2002

The Free Electron Maser in Pulsar Magnetospheres

We present the numerical simulations of coherent inverse Compton scattering (CICS) in a highly magnetized plasma process by means of a full three dimensional particle in cell code (PIC), which is mass and energy conservative. We used the parameters of a pulsar magnetosphere where CICS is one of the most promising models for the generation of the observed highly coherent radio emission. First we show details of the onset and time evolution of strong Langmuir turbulence driven by a relativistic electron beam penetrating a strongly magnetized background plasma. The Langmuir turbulence acts as self-generated wiggler fields which bunch the beam electrons thereby inducing strong coherent emission of the bunches at frequency gamma^2 times the plasma frequency. The emitted power is about 10 GW in a few nanoseconds. This radiation is interpreted in terms of inverse Compton scattering on nonlinear density fluctuations. CICS is the longitudinal version of a laboratory free electron laser and is applicable in strongly magnetized plasmas like pulsars.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Surface Oscillations in Overdense Plasmas Irradiated by Ultrashort Laser Pulses

The generation of electron surface oscillations in overdense plasmas irradiated at normal incidence by an intense laser pulse is investigated. Two-dimensional (2D) particle-in-cell simulations show a transition from a planar, electrostatic oscillation at $2ω$, with $ω$ the laser frequency, to a 2D electromagnetic oscillation at frequency $ω$ and wavevector $k>ω/c$. A new electron parametric instability, involving the decay of a 1D electrostatic oscillation into two surface waves, is introduced to explain the basic features of the 2D oscillations. This effect leads to the rippling of the plasma surface within a few laser cycles, and is likely to have a strong impact on laser interaction with solid targets.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2001

Transport in a laser irradiated thin foil

Three dimensional Particle-In-Cell simulations describing the interaction of a short intense laser pulse with thin foils are presented. It is observed that the laser generated electron current decays into magnetically isolated filaments. The filaments grow in scale and magnitude by reconnection. Two different laser wavelengths are considered. The spatial separation of the filaments varies for the two wavelengths. Many current filaments carry net electric currents exceeding the Alfven current considerably.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2001

Hollow density channels and transport in a laser irradiated plasma slab

A three dimensional Particle-In-Cell simulation describing the interaction of an intense laser beam with a plasma slab is presented. It is observed that the laser generated electron current decays into magnetically isolated filaments. The filaments grow in scale and magnitude by a merging process in the course of which the field topology changes. The opposite process also takes place occasionally. The laser driven charge and energy flows and the reconnecting magnetic field mutually interact. At the end of the merging process flows and fields are confined close to the laser irradiated surface of the plasma slab. Both decay rapidly in the bulk plasma. Due to the magnetic pressure in the filaments hollow density channels in the electron and ion densities are formed. The simulation reveals that charge flows in these channels can exceed the Alfven current.

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv2000

"Single-cycle" ionization effects in laser-matter interaction

We investigate numerically effects related to ``single-cycle'' ionization of dense matter by an ultra-short laser pulse. The strongly non-adiabatic response of electrons leads to generation of a megagauss steady magnetic field in laser-solid interaction. By using two-beam interference, it is possible to create periodic density structures able to trap light and to generate relativistic ionization fronts

physics.plasm-ph↗

arXiv1998

Collimated electron jets by intense laser beam-plasma surface interaction under oblique incidence

Oblique incidence of a $p$-polarized laser beam on a fully ionized plasma with a low density plasma corona is investigated numerically by Particle-In-Cell and Vlasov simulations in two dimensions. A single narrow self-focused current jet of energetic electrons is observed to be projected into the corona nearly normal to the target. Magnetic fields enhance the penetration depth of the electrons into the corona. A scaling law for the angle of the ejected electrons with incident laser intensity is given.

physics.plasm-ph↗