Laser Field Absorption in Self-Generated Electron-Positron Pair Plasma

Abstract

Recently, much attention has been attracted to the problem of limitations on the attainable intensity of high power lasers [A. M. Fedotov et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 080402 (2010)]. The laser energy can be absorbed by electron-positron pair plasma produced from a seed by a strong laser field via the development of the electromagnetic cascades. The numerical model for a self-consistent study of electron-positron pair plasma dynamics is developed. Strong absorption of the laser energy in self-generated overdense electron-positron pair plasma is demonstrated. It is shown that the absorption becomes important for a not extremely high laser intensity I ∼ 10(24) W/cm(2) achievable in the near future.

Classical and quantum particle dynamics in univariate background fields

“…Despite the two spectra becoming almost identical in the high-energy limit, γ → ∞, there is an intermediate energy range where γ ≫ 1 and the spectra are significantly shifted. This is particularly relevant to simulations of electromagnetic cascades in laser backgrounds, which often adopt a (constant crossed) plane wave model at the magnetic node of a standing wave (k 2 ≠ 0) [55][56][57][58]. For example, the nonlinear Compton scattering stage of a cascade becomes probable for γ ¼ 50 in an optical field with intensity parameter a 0 ≈ 300.…”

Diagnostics of peak laser intensity based on the measurement of energy of electrons emitted from laser focal region

“…For instance, it was shown previously, that at interaction of high-peak-power laser pulse with high-charged ions at rest the production of electron-positron pair may occur (Sieczka et al, 2006). The consequent acceleration of electrons/positrons in the surrounding laser field may lead with a finite probability to the electromagnetic cascade, resulting in self-generation of electron-positron pair plasma at the intensity level below 10 24 -10 25 W/cm 2 (Bell & Kirk, 2008;Nerush et al, 2011). Thus, the strongly rarefied ionized target may serve as a seed for the QED effects.…”

Charged particle dynamics in multiple colliding electromagnetic waves. Survey of random walk, Lévy flights, limit circles, attractors and structurally determinate patterns

“…(i) a > 1, the relativistic interaction regime (Mourou et al 2006); (ii) a > ε −1/3 rad , the interaction becomes radiation dominated (Zhidkov et al 2002;Bulanov et al 2004b;Bashinov & Kim 2013); (iii) χ e 1 the quantum effects begin to manifest themselves (Di Piazza, Hatsagortsyan & Keitel 2010;Bulanov et al 2011aBulanov et al , 2015; and (iv) χ e > 1, χ γ > 1 marks the condition for the EM avalanche (Bulanov et al 2010a;Fedotov et al 2010;Nerush et al 2011;Bulanov et al 2013), which is the phenomenon of exponential growth of the number of electron-positrons and photons in the strong EM field, being able to develop. These conditions can be supplemented by αa > 1, which indicates that the number of photons emitted incoherently per laser period can be larger than unity as has been noted by Di .…”