The generation of electron surface oscillations in overdense plasmas irradiated at normal incidence by an intense laser pulse is investigated. Two-dimensional (2D) particle-in-cell simulations show a transition from a planar, electrostatic oscillation at 2 omega, with omega the laser frequency, to a 2D electromagnetic oscillation at frequency w and wave vector k > omega /c. A new electron parametric instability, involving the decay of a 1D electrostatic oscillation into two surface waves, is introduced to explain the basic features of the 2D oscillations. This effect leads to the rippling of the plasma surface within a few laser cycles, and is likely to have a strong impact on laser interaction with solid targets.
Autori interni: | |
Autori: | Macchi A; Cornolti F; Pegoraro F; Liseikina TV; Ruhl H; Vshivkov VA |
Titolo: | Surface oscillations in overdense plasmas irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses |
Anno del prodotto: | 2001 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | 10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.205004 |
Appare nelle tipologie: | 1.1 Articolo in rivista |