Laser channeling in millimeter-scale underdense plasmas of fast-ignition targets.
Two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that laser channeling in millimeter-scale underdense plasmas is a highly nonlinear and dynamic process involving longitudinal plasma buildup, laser hosing, channel bifurcation and self-correction, and electron heating to relativistic temperatures. The channeling speed is much less than the linear group velocity of the laser. The simulations find that low-intensity channeling pulses are preferred to minimize the required laser energy but with an estimated lower bound on the intensity of I approximately 5x10(18) W/cm(2) if the channel is to be established within 100 ps. The channel is also shown to significantly increase the transmission of an ignition pulse.
Li
G
G
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
Yan
R
R
Ren
C
C
Wang
T-L
TL
Tonge
J
J
Mori
W B
WB