Interaction of intense multi-picosecond laser pulses with matter

We present new results on the two- and three-dimensional kinetic modeling of short-pulse laser-matter interaction of Petawatt pulses at the spatial and temporal scales relevant to current experiments. We address key questions such as characterizing the multi-picosecond evolution of the laser energy conversion into hot electrons, i.e., conversion efficiency as well as angular- and energy distribution; the impact of return currents on the laser-plasma interaction; and the effect of self-generated electric and magnetic fields on electron transport. We will report applications to current experiments at LLNL's Titan laser and Omega EP, and to a Fast-Ignition point design.