Self-absorption of synchrotron radiation in a laser-irradiated plasma

• Electrons at the surface of a plasma that is irradiated by a laser with intensity in excess of 1 0 23 W c m - 2 are accelerated so strongly that they emit bursts of synchrotron radiation. Although the combination of high photon and electron density and electromagnetic field strength at the plasma surface makes particle-particle interactions possible, these interactions are usually neglected in simulations of the high-intensity regime. Here we demonstrate an implementation of two such processes: photon absorption and stimulated emission. We show that, for plasmas that are opaque to the laser light, photon absorption would cause complete depletion of the multi-keV region of the synchrotron photon spectrum, unless compensated by stimulated emission. Our results motivate further study of the density dependence of quantum electrodynamics phenomena in strong electromagnetic fields.

Ämnesord

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Fysik -- Fusion, plasma och rymdfysik (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Physical Sciences -- Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

weighted particles

physics

photon

field

simulations

scattering

collisions

pair

Physics

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)