Modelling the effects of the radiation reaction force on the interaction of thin foils with ultra-intense laser fields

TY - JOUR

T1 - Modelling the effects of the radiation reaction force on the interaction of thin foils with ultra-intense laser fields

AU - Duff, Matthew J.

AU - Capdessus, R.

AU - Sorbo, D. Del

AU - Ridgers, C. P.

AU - King, M.

AU - McKenna, P.

N1 - © 2018 IOP Publishing Ltd. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details

PY - 2018/4/20

Y1 - 2018/4/20

N2 - The effects of the radiation reaction (RR) force on thin foils undergoing radiation pressure acceleration (RPA) are investigated. Using QED-particle-in-cell simulations, the influence of the RR force on the collective electron dynamics within the target can be examined. The magnitude of the RR force is found to be strongly dependent on the target thickness, leading to effects which can be observed on a macroscopic scale, such as changes to the distribution of the emitted radiation and the target dynamics. This suggests that such parameters may be controlled in experiments at multi-PW laser facilities. In addition, the effects of the RR force are characterized in terms of an average radiation emission angle. We present an analytical model which, for the first time, describes the effect of the RR force on the collective electron dynamics within the 'light-sail' regime of RPA. The predictions of this model can be tested in future experiments with ultra-high intensity lasers interacting with solid targets.

AB - The effects of the radiation reaction (RR) force on thin foils undergoing radiation pressure acceleration (RPA) are investigated. Using QED-particle-in-cell simulations, the influence of the RR force on the collective electron dynamics within the target can be examined. The magnitude of the RR force is found to be strongly dependent on the target thickness, leading to effects which can be observed on a macroscopic scale, such as changes to the distribution of the emitted radiation and the target dynamics. This suggests that such parameters may be controlled in experiments at multi-PW laser facilities. In addition, the effects of the RR force are characterized in terms of an average radiation emission angle. We present an analytical model which, for the first time, describes the effect of the RR force on the collective electron dynamics within the 'light-sail' regime of RPA. The predictions of this model can be tested in future experiments with ultra-high intensity lasers interacting with solid targets.

KW - light-sail regime

KW - radiation pressure acceleration

KW - radiation reaction force

KW - thin foils

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85047470292&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1088/1361-6587/aab97d

DO - 10.1088/1361-6587/aab97d

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85047470292

SN - 0741-3335

VL - 60

SP - 1

EP - 13

JO - Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

JF - Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

IS - 6

M1 - 064006

ER -