Electron acceleration by surface plasma waves in the interaction between femtosecond laser pulses and sharp-edged overdense plasmas

The relativistic electron acceleration by the field of surface plasma waves in the interaction between ultrashort high-intensity laser pulses with sharp-edged overdense plasmas was discussed. It was shown that the initial phase of the wave experienced by the electrons played a leading part by yielding a well-defined peaked structure in the energy distribution function. It was suggested that the resonant excitation of surface plasma waves could result in quasi-monokinetic energetic electron bunches. It was found that the mechanism can evolve toward a true absorption process of the surface energy, when the space charge field becomes too strong.