Flying mirror model for interaction of a super-intense laser pulse with a thin plasma layer: Transparency and shaping of linearly polarized laser pulses

Abstract

A self-consistent one-dimensional ͑1D͒ flying mirror model is developed for description of an interaction of an ultra-intense laser pulse with a thin plasma layer ͑foil͒. In this model, electrons of the foil can have large longitudinal displacements and relativistic longitudinal momenta. An approximate analytical solution for a transmitted field is derived. Transmittance of the foil shows not only a nonlinear dependence on the amplitude of the incident laser pulse, but also time dependence and shape dependence in the high-transparency regime. The results are compared with particle-in-cell ͑PIC͒ simulations and a good agreement is ascertained. Shaping of incident laser pulses using the flying mirror model is also considered. It can be used either for removing a prepulse or for reducing the length of a short laser pulse. The parameters of the system for effective shaping are specified. Predictions of the flying mirror model for shaping are compared with the 1D PIC simulations, showing good agreement.

Flying mirror model for interaction of a super-intense nonadiabatic laser pulse with a thin plasma layer: Dynamics of electrons in a linearly polarized external field

“…32 It is necessary to note that the model with a single electron sheet has been intensively developed for a case of a relatively small ͑but relativistic͒ amplitude of the laser pulse, 1 Ӷ a 0 Ӷ ␣ ͑the so-called sliding mirror model͒, giving substantial results. 5,21,22,24 To proceed with the dynamics for the single electron sheet, let an arbitrarily polarized plane electromagnetic wave E͑t − kz͒ = E 0 e 0Ќ ͑t − kz͒ be incident on this sheet along the z axis ͑k is the wave vector of the wave and the function e 0Ќ describes the wave envelope͒.…”

Generating nearly single-cycle pulses with increased intensity and strongly asymmetric pulses of petawatt level

“…10(a). After compression of the electrons, the process of shaping becomes very similar to that for ultrathin foils, as described by the flying mirror model [13]. Indeed, full compression (and correspondingly, high transmission) is possible only when the laser pulse amplitude becomes greater than the parameter α (the part of the pulse above the line for α in Fig.…”

“…11 (26) of Ref. [13]], though symmetrical, allows us to obtain simple estimates for parameters of the transmitted pulse. Therefore, it can be inferred that this model gives a reasonable description of the shaping process.…”

“…The characteristics of the transmitting window are then studied for different parameters of the laser pulse and plasma layer. To shape laser pulses having a circular polarization, we show that the self-consistent flying mirror model developed earlier for ultrathin foils [13] can also be successfully applied to the case of plasma layers having a thickness of about the laser wavelength, thereby allowing the shape of the transmitted pulse to be analytically predicted. Finally, we confirm the 1D results via two-dimensional (2D) PIC simulations.…”

“…The analytical theory for the shaping was originally derived for moderate laser pulse amplitudes [1] (sliding mirror model). Later, this theory was generalized for arbitrary amplitudes of the incoming pulse [13] (flying mirror model). Shaping enables few-cycle pulses with a high intensity to be produced, which are very promising for the generation of attosecond pulses [14], the laser wakefield acceleration of monoenergetic electron bunches [15], the generation of relativistic electron mirrors [10], and coherent x-ray pulses [7,8], among other uses.…”