Fast electron propagation and energy deposition in laser shock compressed plasmas

  • A. Bernardinello
  • , D. Batani
  • , V. Masella
  • , T. A. Hall
  • , S. Ellwi
  • , M. Koenig
  • , A. Benuzzi
  • , J. Krishnan
  • , F. Pisani
  • , A. Djaoui
  • , P. Norreys
  • , D. Neely
  • , S. Rose
  • , M. H. Key
  • , P. Fews

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The first experimental study of the propagation of electrons created by an intense laser in shock-compressed matter has been performed with the VULCAN laser facility at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, to investigate one of the fundamental phases of the fast ignitor concept for inertial confinement fusion. Plastic plane targets were irradiated on one side with two pulsed laser beams, each with I ≈ 1014 W/cm2, t ≈ 2 ns, E ≈ 80 J per pulse, to generate a planar shock wave; on the opposite side of the target, a chirped pulse amplification (CPA) laser beam (I ≈ 1016W/cm2, t ≈ 3 ps, E ≈ 10 J) was focused to generate the fast electrons. The results show an increase of hot electron penetration in compressed matter with respect to an ordinary one. Experimental results have been analyzed with computer simulations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)519-528
Number of pages10
JournalLaser and Particle Beams
Volume17
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1999

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Fast electron propagation and energy deposition in laser shock compressed plasmas'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this