Distribution of Free Electrons Ejected Out the Side a Laser Focus at Relativistic Intensities

ORAL

Abstract

At laser intensities of 10$^{\mathrm{18}}$ W/cm$^{\mathrm{2}}$, electrons are quickly ionized from atoms and oscillate relativistically. Strong field gradients within a tight laser focus propel these free electrons out the side of the focus. Malka et al. observed that electrons have a strong tendency to be ejected along the direction of the laser polarization. Quesnel and Mora argued that these results must be in error. They developed a theoretical model that contradicted Malka et al. Our theoretical analysis supports the results of Malka et al. and we are setting up an experiment to test these conclusions.

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Authors

  • Christoph Schulzke

    Brigham Young University

  • John Spence

    Brigham Young University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY 10028, Century Darkroom, Toronto, ON M4M 2S1, Canada, Colorado State University, University of Waterloo, Southern Connecticut State University, Clemson University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, BYU REU Program, New Mexico State University, Arizona State University, Biodesign Institute, Center for Applied Structural Discovery, University of Utah, University of Hawaii, Johns Hopkins University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona State University, Utah State University, Department of Physics, United States Air Force Academy, Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, United States Air Force Academy, Lousiana State University, Brigham Young University - Provo, The University of New Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Brigham Young University, Department of Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA, Center for Memory and Recording research, UCSD, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Chicago

  • John Spence

    Brigham Young University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, Department of Scientific Research, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY 10028, Century Darkroom, Toronto, ON M4M 2S1, Canada, Colorado State University, University of Waterloo, Southern Connecticut State University, Clemson University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University of Bordeaux, BYU REU Program, New Mexico State University, Arizona State University, Biodesign Institute, Center for Applied Structural Discovery, University of Utah, University of Hawaii, Johns Hopkins University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Arizona State University, Utah State University, Department of Physics, United States Air Force Academy, Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, United States Air Force Academy, Lousiana State University, Brigham Young University - Provo, The University of New Mexico, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Brigham Young University, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Brigham Young University, Department of Materials, Devices, and Energy Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA, Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003, USA, Center for Memory and Recording research, UCSD, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, University of New Mexico, Los Alamos National Laboratory, University of Chicago