Pair Production by Ultraintense Lasers

Liang, Edison; Wilks, S. C.; Tabak, M.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.81.4887

Cited by 403 publications

(251 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…High-energy laser-plasma interactions and fusion devices also constitute a source of e-p plasmas (also referred to as pair plasma). Intense laser-plasma interaction experiments have reported the production of MeV electrons and conclusive evidence of positron production [13][14][15][16] via electron collisions [17]. Positrons have also been created in postdisruption plasmas in large tokamaks [18] through collisions between MeV electrons and thermal particles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electromagnetic solitary pulses in a magnetized electron-positron plasma

2011

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A theory for large amplitude compressional electromagnetic solitary pulses in a magnetized electron-positron (e-p) plasma is presented. The pulses, which propagate perpendicular to the external magnetic field, are associated with the compression of the plasma density and the wave magnetic field. Here the solitary wave magnetic field pressure provides the restoring force, while the inertia comes from the equal mass electrons and positrons. The solitary pulses are formed due to a balance between the compressional wave dispersion arising from the curl of the inertial forces in Faradays law and the nonlinearities associated with the divergence of the electron and positron fluxes, the nonlinear Lorentz forces, the advection of the e-p fluids, and the nonlinear plasma current densities. The compressional solitary pulses can exist in a well-defined speed range above the Alfven speed. They can be associated with localized electromagnetic field excitations in magnetized laboratory and space plasmas composed of electrons and positrons.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electromagnetic solitary pulses in a magnetized electron-positron plasma

2011

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“…They can produce large numbers of positrons and hold the promise of creating dense, electron-positron plasmas. 43 Here we will focus on wakefield acceleration, where it has proven possible to produce a coherent nonlinear state in the plasma that can emit quasimonoenergetic beams of relativistic electrons, having low enough emittance to be useful in accelerators for high-energy physics. Plasma physicists are all familiar with the idea of extracting energy from a wave by riding it, which is the basis of Landau damping as it is of surfing on water.…”

Section: Relativistic Laser Plasmasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives on high-energy-density physics

2009

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Much of 21st century plasma physics will involve work to produce, understand, control, and exploit very nontraditional plasmas. High-energy-density (HED) plasmas are often examples, variously involving strong Coulomb interactions and ⪡1 particles per Debye sphere, dominant radiation effects, and strongly relativistic or strongly quantum-mechanical behavior. Indeed, these and other modern plasma systems often fall outside the early standard theoretical definitions of “plasma.” Here the specific ways in which HED plasmas differ from traditional plasmas are discussed. This is first done by comparison of important physical quantities across the parameter regime accessible by existing or contemplated experimental facilities. A specific discussion of some illustrative cases follows, including strongly radiative shocks and the production of relativistic, quasimonoenergetic beams of accelerated electrons.

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“…Cowan et al 13 demonstrated that such an e + e− source can be achieved using a PW laser striking a gold foil. Theoretical works 14 suggest that e + e− densities Ͼ10 22 cm −3 may be achievable with sufficient laser fluence. Such a dense e + e− jet can be slitcollimated to produce a Ͻmicron thin e + e− slab, followed by two-sided irradiation with opposing UL pulses.…”

Section: Fig 4 ͑Color͒ ͑A͒mentioning

confidence: 99%

Comoving acceleration of overdense electron-positron plasma by colliding ultra-intense laser pulses

Liang

2006

Physics of Plasmas

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Particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation results of sustained acceleration of electron-positron (e+e-) plasmas by comoving electromagnetic (EM) pulses are presented.When a thin slab of overdense e+e-plasma is irradiated with linear-polarized ultra-intense short laser pulses from both sides, the pulses are transmitted when the plasma is compressed to thinner than ~ 2 relativistic skin depths. A fraction of the plasma is then captured and efficiently accelerated by self-induced JxB forces. For 1µm laser and10 21 Wcm -2 intensity, the maximum energy exceedsGeV in a picosecond.Recent advances in ultra-intense short-pulse lasers (ULs) [1,2] revolutionize particle acceleration via intense electromagnetic (EM) fields [3]. Most proposed laser acceleration schemes (e.g. laser wakefield accelerator (LWFA), plasma wakefield accelerator (PWFA) [4], free-wave accelerator (FWA) [5]) require propagating lasers in an underdense plasma (ω pe =(4πne 2 /m) 1/2 <ω o =2πc/λ, λ=laser wavelength, n=electron density, m=electron mass). In such schemes the energy gain/distance [4] and particle beam intensity are constrained by the underdense requirement. Here we report particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation results of a radically different concept: comoving acceleration of overdense (ω pe >ω o ) plasmas using colliding ULpulses. This colliding laser pulses accelerator (CLPA) has properties, such as higher acceleration gradient and particle beam intensity, that are complementary to underdense schemes.When an intense EM pulse with Ω e (=eB o /mc=a o ω o , a o =normalized vector potential)>ω pe initially imbedded in an overdense plasma tries to escape, it induces a skin current J that inhibits the EM field from leaving. The induced J x B (ponderomotive) force then accelerates the surface plasma to follow the EM pulse. As the EM pulse "pulls" the surface plasma, it is slowed by plasma loading (group velocity < c), allowing the fastest particles to "comove" with the EM pulse. Since slower particles eventually fall behind, the plasma loading decreases and the EM pulse accelerates over time. A dwindling number of fast particles gets accelerated indefinitely by the comoving EM force, reaching maximum Lorentz factors γ max >a o 2 /2 (ponderomotive limit[6]) >>(Ω e /ω pe ) 2 . This phenomenon, called the diamagnetic relativistic pulse accelerator (DRPA)[7], is a nonlinear relativistic phenomenon, with no analog in the weak field (Ω e /ω pe <1), low density (ω o >ω pe ) regime or test particle limit.But DRPA is difficult to achieve in the laboratory, since vacuum EM waves cannot penetrate an overdense plasma beyond the relativistic skin depth [8]. Fig. 1 shows the PIC simulation of a single UL irradiating an overdense e+e-plasma. All upstream plasma is snowplowed by the UL

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Pair Production by Ultraintense Lasers

Cited by 403 publications

References 8 publications

Electromagnetic solitary pulses in a magnetized electron-positron plasma

Electromagnetic solitary pulses in a magnetized electron-positron plasma

Perspectives on high-energy-density physics

Comoving acceleration of overdense electron-positron plasma by colliding ultra-intense laser pulses

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