title: Target charging in short-pulse-laser-plasma experiments.
abstract: Interaction of high-intensity laser pulses with solid targets results in generation of large quantities of energetic electrons that are the origin of various effects such as intense x-ray emission, ion acceleration, and so on. Some of these electrons are escaping the target, leaving behind a significant positive electric charge and creating a strong electromagnetic pulse long after the end of the laser pulse. We propose here a detailed model of the target electric polarization induced by a short and intense laser pulse and an escaping electron bunch. A specially designed experiment provides direct measurements of the target polarization and the discharge current in the function of the laser energy, pulse duration, and target size. Large-scale numerical simulations describe the energetic electron generation and their emission from the target. The model, experiment, and numerical simulations demonstrate that the hot-electron ejection may continue long after the laser pulse ends, enhancing significantly the polarization charge.
authors.affiliation: CEA/DAM/CESTA, BP 12, Le Barp 33405, France.
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.affiliation: CEA/DAM/CESTA, BP 12, Le Barp 33405, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lubrano-Lavaderci
authors.affiliation: CEA/DAM/CESTA, BP 12, Le Barp 33405, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raffestin
authors.affiliation: CEA/DAM/CESTA, BP 12, Le Barp 33405, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribolzi
authors.affiliation: CEA/DAM/CESTA, BP 12, Le Barp 33405, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gazave
authors.affiliation: CEA/DAM/DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Compant  La Fontaine
authors.affiliation: Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications, University Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, Talence 33405, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: d'Humières
authors.affiliation: Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications, University Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, Talence 33405, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hulin
authors.affiliation: Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications, University Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, Talence 33405, France.
authors.forename: Ph
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nicolaï
authors.affiliation: Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications, University Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, Talence 33405, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poyé
authors.affiliation: Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications, University Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, Talence 33405, France.
authors.forename: V T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Tikhonchuk
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004579:Electron Transport; D004583:Electrons; D007834:Lasers; D008956:Models, Chemical; D058626:Plasma Gases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: D058626:Plasma Gases