Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Article number | 045014 |
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark> | 30/04/2010 |
<mark>Journal</mark> | New Journal of Physics |
Volume | 12 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Publication Status | Published |
<mark>Original language</mark> | English |
Plasma cavitation in an underdense helium plasma driven by an ultraintense laser pulse (I > 10(20) W cm(-2)) is studied. Shadowgraphy and interferometry diagnose plasma channel formation as the laser pulse propagates through the underdense plasma. Measurements of the spatially resolved Thomson side-scattered light generated by the intense-driver pulse indicate the transverse and longitudinal extremities of the cavitated regions that form. Multiple laser-driven channels are observed and each is shown to be a source of electrons with energies greater than 100 MeV. Electron cavitation within an ion channel is consistent with the direct laser acceleration (DLA) mechanism that is present.