Inertial Fusion Sciences and Applications 2005
J.-C. Gauthier, et al.
J. Phys. IV France 133 (2006) 1143-1145
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:2006133233

Particle-in-cell simulations of high-energy electron production by intense laser pulses in underdense plasmas

S. Kato¹, S. Masuda², E. Miura¹, M. Tanimoto³, M. Adachi⁴, T. Watanabe⁵ and  K. Koyama<sup>1

1</sup>  National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Ibaraki 305-8568, Japan
²  National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS), Chiba, Chiba 263-8555, Japan
³  Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, Meisei University, Tokyo 191-8506, Japan
⁴  Graduate School of Advanced Science of Matter, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 739-8530, Japan
⁵  Graduate School of Engineering, Utsunomiya University, Tochigi 321-8585, Japan

Abstract
The propagation of intense laser pulses and the generation of high-energy electrons from underdense plasmas are investigated using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation. It is shown that the stability of pulse propagation and the properties of the electron beam strongly depend on the laser pulse duration.

© EDP Sciences 2006