Generation of self-generated annular magnetic fields at the rear side of a solid target driven by relativistic laser pulse is investigated by using theoretical analysis and particle-in-cell simulations.The spatial str...Generation of self-generated annular magnetic fields at the rear side of a solid target driven by relativistic laser pulse is investigated by using theoretical analysis and particle-in-cell simulations.The spatial strength distribution of magnetic fields can be accurately predicted by calculating the net flow caused by the superposition of source flow and return flow of hot electrons.The theoretical model established shows good agreement with the simulation results,indicating that the magnetic-field strength scales positively to the temperature of hot electrons.This provides us a way to improve the magnetic-field generation by using a micro-structured plasma grating in front of the solid target.Compared with that for a common flat target,hot electrons can be effectively heated with the well-designed grating size,leading to a stronger magnetic field.The spatial distribution of magnetic fields can be modulated by optimizing the grating period and height as well as the incident angle of the laser pulse.展开更多
An all-optical scheme for high-density pair plasmas generation is proposed by two laser pulses colliding in a cylinder channel. Two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that, when the first laser pulse propag...An all-optical scheme for high-density pair plasmas generation is proposed by two laser pulses colliding in a cylinder channel. Two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that, when the first laser pulse propagates in the cylinder, electrons are extracted out of the cylinder inner wall and accelerated to high energies. These energetic electrons later run into the second counter-propagating laser pulse, radiating a large amount of high-energy gamma photons via the Compton back-scattering process. The emitted gamma photons then collide with the second laser pulse to initiate the Breit-Wheeler process for pairs production. Due to the strong self-generated fields in the cylinder, positrons are confined in the channel to form dense pair plasmas. Totally, the maximum density of pair plasmas can be 4.60 × 10^27 m%-3, for lasers with an intensity of 4 × 10^22 W.cm^-2. Both the positron yield and density are tunable by changing the cylinder radius and the laser parameters. The generated dense pair plasmas can further facilitate investigations related to astrophysics and particle physics.展开更多
Low-noise terahertz(THz)radiation over 100 MV/cm generation by a linearly-polarized relativistic laser pulse interacting with a near-critical-density(NCD)plasma slab is studied by theory and particle-in-cell(PIC)simul...Low-noise terahertz(THz)radiation over 100 MV/cm generation by a linearly-polarized relativistic laser pulse interacting with a near-critical-density(NCD)plasma slab is studied by theory and particle-in-cell(PIC)simulations.A theoretical model is established to examine the dipole-like radiation emission.The THz radiation is attributed to the singlecycle low-frequency surface current,which is longitudinally constrained by the quasi-equilibrium established by the laser ponderomotive force and the ponderomotively induced electrostatic force.Through theoretical analysis,the spatiotemporal characteristics,polarization property of the THz radiation,and the relation between the radiation strength with the initial parameters of driving laser and plasma are obtained,which are in good consistence with the PIC simulation results.Furthermore,it is found by PIC simulations that the generation of thermal electrons can be suppressed within the appropriate parameter regime,resulting in a clear THz radiation waveform.The appropriate parameter region is given for generating a low-noise intense THz radiation with peak strength reaching 100 MV/cm,which could find potential applications in nonlinear THz physics.展开更多
The electron injection and acceleration driven by a few-cycle laser with a sharp vacuum-plasma boundary have been investigated through three-dimensional(3D)particle-in-cell simulations.It is found that an isotropic bo...The electron injection and acceleration driven by a few-cycle laser with a sharp vacuum-plasma boundary have been investigated through three-dimensional(3D)particle-in-cell simulations.It is found that an isotropic boundary impact injection(BII)first occurs at the vacuum-plasma boundary,and then carrier-envelope-phase(CEP)shift causes the transverse oscillation of the plasma bubble,resulting in a periodic electron self-injection(SI)in the laser polarization direction.It shows that the electron charge of the BII only accounts for a small part of the total charge,and the CEP can effectively tune the quality of the injected electron beam.The dependences of laser intensity and electron density on the total charge and the ratio of BII charge to the total charge are studied.The results are beneficial to electron acceleration and its applications,such as betatron radiation source.展开更多
The simple surface current model is extended to study the generation of high-order harmonics for a relativistic circularly polarized laser pulse interacting with a plasma grating surface. Both exact relativistic elect...The simple surface current model is extended to study the generation of high-order harmonics for a relativistic circularly polarized laser pulse interacting with a plasma grating surface. Both exact relativistic electron dynamics and optical interference of surface periodic structure are considered. It is found that high order harmonics in the specular direction are obviously suppressed whereas the harmonics of the grating periodicity are strongly enhanced and folded into small solid angles with respect to the surface direction. The conversion efficiency of certain harmonics is five orders of magnitude higher than that of the planar target cases. It provides an effective approach to generate a coherent radiation within the so-called ＇water window＇ while maintaining high conversion efficiency and narrow angle spread.展开更多
A new scheme of radiation pressure acceleration for generating high-quality protons by using two overlappingparallel laser pulses is proposed. Particle-in-cell simulation shows that the overlapping of two pulses with ...A new scheme of radiation pressure acceleration for generating high-quality protons by using two overlappingparallel laser pulses is proposed. Particle-in-cell simulation shows that the overlapping of two pulses with identical Caussian profiles in space and trapezoidal profiles in the time domain can result in a composite light pulse with a spatial profile suitable for stable acceleration of protons to high energies. At～2.46 × 10^21 W/cm^2 intensity of the combination light pulse, a quasi-monoenergetic proton beam with peak energy ,～200 MeV/nucleon, energy spread 〈15%, and divergency angle 〈4° is obtained, which is appropriate for tumor therapy. The proton beam quality can be controlled by adjusting the incidence points of two laser pulses.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12175310,12305268,and U2241281)the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province(Grant Nos.2024JJ6184,2022JJ20042,and 2021JJ40653)the Scientific Research Foundation of Hunan Provincial Education Department(Grant Nos.22B0655 and 22A0435)。
文摘Generation of self-generated annular magnetic fields at the rear side of a solid target driven by relativistic laser pulse is investigated by using theoretical analysis and particle-in-cell simulations.The spatial strength distribution of magnetic fields can be accurately predicted by calculating the net flow caused by the superposition of source flow and return flow of hot electrons.The theoretical model established shows good agreement with the simulation results,indicating that the magnetic-field strength scales positively to the temperature of hot electrons.This provides us a way to improve the magnetic-field generation by using a micro-structured plasma grating in front of the solid target.Compared with that for a common flat target,hot electrons can be effectively heated with the well-designed grating size,leading to a stronger magnetic field.The spatial distribution of magnetic fields can be modulated by optimizing the grating period and height as well as the incident angle of the laser pulse.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation(Grant Nos.11475260,11305264,11622547,11375265,and 11474360)the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2013CBA01504)+1 种基金the Research Project of National University of Defense Technology,China(Contract No.JC14-02-02)the Science Challenge Program,China(Grant No.JCKY2016212A505)
文摘An all-optical scheme for high-density pair plasmas generation is proposed by two laser pulses colliding in a cylinder channel. Two dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that, when the first laser pulse propagates in the cylinder, electrons are extracted out of the cylinder inner wall and accelerated to high energies. These energetic electrons later run into the second counter-propagating laser pulse, radiating a large amount of high-energy gamma photons via the Compton back-scattering process. The emitted gamma photons then collide with the second laser pulse to initiate the Breit-Wheeler process for pairs production. Due to the strong self-generated fields in the cylinder, positrons are confined in the channel to form dense pair plasmas. Totally, the maximum density of pair plasmas can be 4.60 × 10^27 m%-3, for lasers with an intensity of 4 × 10^22 W.cm^-2. Both the positron yield and density are tunable by changing the cylinder radius and the laser parameters. The generated dense pair plasmas can further facilitate investigations related to astrophysics and particle physics.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11774430,12075157,11775202,and 12175310)the Scientific Research Foundation of Hunan Provincial Education Department(Grant No.20A042).
文摘Low-noise terahertz(THz)radiation over 100 MV/cm generation by a linearly-polarized relativistic laser pulse interacting with a near-critical-density(NCD)plasma slab is studied by theory and particle-in-cell(PIC)simulations.A theoretical model is established to examine the dipole-like radiation emission.The THz radiation is attributed to the singlecycle low-frequency surface current,which is longitudinally constrained by the quasi-equilibrium established by the laser ponderomotive force and the ponderomotively induced electrostatic force.Through theoretical analysis,the spatiotemporal characteristics,polarization property of the THz radiation,and the relation between the radiation strength with the initial parameters of driving laser and plasma are obtained,which are in good consistence with the PIC simulation results.Furthermore,it is found by PIC simulations that the generation of thermal electrons can be suppressed within the appropriate parameter regime,resulting in a clear THz radiation waveform.The appropriate parameter region is given for generating a low-noise intense THz radiation with peak strength reaching 100 MV/cm,which could find potential applications in nonlinear THz physics.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12005297,12175309,12175310,11975308,and 12275356)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDA25050200)+3 种基金the Research Project of NUDT(Grant No.ZK21-12)the Key Laboratory Foundation of Laser Plasma of Ministry of Educationthe financial support from the NUDT Young Innovator Awards(Grant No.20190102)Outstanding Young Talents。
文摘The electron injection and acceleration driven by a few-cycle laser with a sharp vacuum-plasma boundary have been investigated through three-dimensional(3D)particle-in-cell simulations.It is found that an isotropic boundary impact injection(BII)first occurs at the vacuum-plasma boundary,and then carrier-envelope-phase(CEP)shift causes the transverse oscillation of the plasma bubble,resulting in a periodic electron self-injection(SI)in the laser polarization direction.It shows that the electron charge of the BII only accounts for a small part of the total charge,and the CEP can effectively tune the quality of the injected electron beam.The dependences of laser intensity and electron density on the total charge and the ratio of BII charge to the total charge are studied.The results are beneficial to electron acceleration and its applications,such as betatron radiation source.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 11375265,11475259 and 11675264the National Basic Research Program of China under Grant No 2013CBA01504the Science Challenge Project under Grant No JCKY2016212A505
文摘The simple surface current model is extended to study the generation of high-order harmonics for a relativistic circularly polarized laser pulse interacting with a plasma grating surface. Both exact relativistic electron dynamics and optical interference of surface periodic structure are considered. It is found that high order harmonics in the specular direction are obviously suppressed whereas the harmonics of the grating periodicity are strongly enhanced and folded into small solid angles with respect to the surface direction. The conversion efficiency of certain harmonics is five orders of magnitude higher than that of the planar target cases. It provides an effective approach to generate a coherent radiation within the so-called ＇water window＇ while maintaining high conversion efficiency and narrow angle spread.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant Nos 11175255, 11175253, 11205243, 11375265 and 11305264, and the Research Fund of the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China under Grant No 20114307110020.
文摘A new scheme of radiation pressure acceleration for generating high-quality protons by using two overlappingparallel laser pulses is proposed. Particle-in-cell simulation shows that the overlapping of two pulses with identical Caussian profiles in space and trapezoidal profiles in the time domain can result in a composite light pulse with a spatial profile suitable for stable acceleration of protons to high energies. At～2.46 × 10^21 W/cm^2 intensity of the combination light pulse, a quasi-monoenergetic proton beam with peak energy ,～200 MeV/nucleon, energy spread 〈15%, and divergency angle 〈4° is obtained, which is appropriate for tumor therapy. The proton beam quality can be controlled by adjusting the incidence points of two laser pulses.
