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Laser opacity in underdense preplasma of solid targets due to quantum electrodynamics effects
W-M Wang1,2,3, P Gibbon4,5, Z-M Sheng3,6,7
1Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, CAS, Beijing 100190, China.
Physical Review. E
|January 20, 2018
Summary
Quantum electrodynamics (QED) processes create electron-positron pairs, making preplasmas opaque to high-power lasers. This significantly impacts laser-solid target experiments and proton acceleration.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- High-Intensity Laser-Matter Interactions
- Quantum Electrodynamics (QED)
Background:
- Next-generation lasers (10-200 PW) interact with solid targets and preplasmas.
- Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) produces relativistically underdense preplasmas.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate laser-preplasma interactions at high laser powers.
- Understand the role of quantum electrodynamics (QED) processes.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations of laser-plasma interactions.
- Modeling of electron-positron pair production and QED cascades.
Main Results:
- QED processes generate electron-positron pairs, forming a dense pair plasma.
- This pair plasma restrains laser hole boring and relativistic transparency.
- The preplasma becomes opaque to high-power laser pulses.
- Laser energy is efficiently transferred to photons via QED cascades.
Conclusions:
- QED-induced opacity necessitates higher laser contrast requirements for solid-target experiments.
- Proton acceleration from solid targets with preplasmas is significantly impaired by QED effects.
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