Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Plasma cavitation in ultraintense laser interactions with underdense helium plasmas
AU - Nilson, P. M.
AU - Mangles, S. P. D.
AU - Willingale, L.
AU - Kaluza, M. C.
AU - Thomas, A. G. R.
AU - Tatarakis, M.
AU - Clarke, R. J.
AU - Lancaster, K. L.
AU - Karsch, S.
AU - Schreiber, J.
AU - Najmudin, Z.
AU - Dangor, A. E.
AU - Krushelnick, K.
PY - 2010/4/30
Y1 - 2010/4/30
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - CHANNEL FORMATION
KW - PREFORMED PLASMA
KW - ELECTRON-BEAMS
KW - WAVE-GUIDE
KW - INTENSE
KW - PULSES
KW - PROPAGATION
KW - ACCELERATOR
KW - WAKEFIELD
KW - EVOLUTION
U2 - 10.1088/1367-2630/12/4/045014
DO - 10.1088/1367-2630/12/4/045014
M3 - Journal article
VL - 12
JO - New Journal of Physics
JF - New Journal of Physics
SN - 1367-2630
M1 - 045014
ER -