title: Explanations for the observed increase in fast electron penetration in laser shock compressed materials
abstract: We analyze recent experimental results on the increase of fast electron penetration in shock compressed plastic [Phys. Rev. Lett. 81, 1003 (1998)]. It is explained by a combination of stopping power and electric field effects, which appear to be important even at laser intensities as low as 10(16) W cm-2. An important conclusion is that fast electron induced heating must be taken into account, changing the properties of the material in which the fast electrons propagate. In insulators this leads to a rapid insulator to conductor phase transition.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisica G. Occhialini, Universita degli Studi di Milano, Bicocca and INFM, Italy.
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Batani
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bernardinello
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pisani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ellwi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norreys
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Djaoui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neely