title: Physics of giant electromagnetic pulse generation in short-pulse laser experiments.
abstract: In this paper we describe the physical processes that lead to the generation of giant electromagnetic pulses (GEMPs) at powerful laser facilities. Our study is based on experimental measurements of both the charging of a solid target irradiated by an ultra-short, ultra-intense laser and the detection of the electromagnetic emission in the GHz domain. An unambiguous correlation between the neutralization current in the target holder and the electromagnetic emission shows that the source of the GEMP is the remaining positive charge inside the target after the escape of fast electrons accelerated by the ultra-intense laser. A simple model for calculating this charge in the thick target case is presented. From this model and knowing the geometry of the target holder, it becomes possible to estimate the intensity and the dominant frequencies of the GEMP at any facility.
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: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hulin
authors.affiliation: Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications, University Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, Talence 33405, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bailly-Grandvaux
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: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ribolzi
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: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bardon
authors.affiliation: CEA/DAM/CESTA, BP 12, Le Barp 33405, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lubrano-Lavaderci
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: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Santos
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: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tikhonchuk