Dense pair plasma generation and its modulation dynamics in counter-propagating laser field

• 来源期刊: 中国物理B（英文版）
• 关键词: PIC simulation laser–plasma interaction standing wave radiation reaction
• 年，卷（期）: 2018,（10）
• 页码范围: 375-382
• 页数: 8页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.1088/1674-1056/27/10/105202

摘要

With two-dimensional quantum electrodynamics (QED) particle-in-cell simulations, a dense electron–positron ( e?e+) pair generation from laser-solid interactions is demonstrated. When the interaction of two linearly polarized laser pulses with a thin target enters into the relativistic transparency regime, a stable standing wave (SW) field can be formed by the overlap of the two counter-propagating laser pulses directly. The present study aims to clarify the effects of the SW field on the dynamics of e?e+pair plasmas. Our results indicate that under the combined effect of the SW field and radiation reaction (RR) effect, the created e?e+pairs can be trapped into the electric field nodes when the field strength is strong. The trapping effect contributes to the generation of γAV≥400 and ultra-dense pair plasmas in the two-side irradiation scheme. Despite different laser intensities, these pair plasmas have a Maxwellian spectral distribution with a peak energy of 150 MeV. Besides, the periodical modulation of the average energy, spatial, phase-space, and angular patterns of the e?e+pair plasmas can be triggered. In the angular patterns, as long as the SW field exists, pair plasmas can be pinched along the laser polarization direction. These results may offer a better understanding of the laser–solid interactions in the experiments when 10-PW laser facilities come into operation in the future.