Magnetic Field-Induced Absorption of Short Ultra-Intense Laser Pulses

Abstract

Self-generated magnetic fields up to 10 (exp 9) Gauss have been predicted in plasmas irradiated with ultra-intense laser light pulses with overdense plasmas. We find that the laser absorption can be significantly enhanced by the oscillation of electrons across these fields. There is then a very large Lorentz force, which can strongly accelerate electrons into the plasma and can lead to generation of harmonics in the reflected light. We also show that large magnetic fields can be significantly amplified to even larger values by the pressure of the light pulse. Potential applications are discussed.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 2000
Accession Number
ADA381771

Entities

People

  • Kent A. Tartt

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption
  • Charged Particles
  • Computer Simulations
  • Computers
  • Electric Fields
  • Electrons
  • Energy Transfer
  • Kinetic Energy
  • Laser Pulses
  • Lasers
  • Light Pulses
  • Lorentz Force
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Oscillation
  • Radiation
  • Temperature Gradients
  • Two Dimensional

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Pulsed Power and Plasma Physics.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics