title: Nanoscale Ultradense Z-Pinch Formation from Laser-Irradiated Nanowire Arrays.
abstract: We show that ultradense Z pinches with nanoscale dimensions can be generated by irradiating aligned nanowires with femtosecond laser pulses of relativistic intensity. Using fully three-dimensional relativistic particle-in-cell simulations, we demonstrate that the laser pulse drives a forward electron current in the area around the wires. This forward current induces return current densities of ∼0.1  GA per μm^{2} through the wires. The resulting strong, quasistatic, self-generated azimuthal magnetic field pinches the nanowires into hot plasmas with a peak electron density of >9×10^{24}  cm^{-3}, exceeding 1000 times the critical density. Arrays of these new ultradense nanopinches can be expected to lead to efficient microfusion and other applications.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Vural
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kaymak
authors.affiliation: Institut für Theoretische Physik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pukhov
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA.
authors.forename: Vyacheslav N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Shlyaptsev
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523, USA.|Department of Physics, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80513, USA.
authors.forename: Jorge J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rocca