Collimation of relativistic laser-generated high energy electron beams via double cone target in fast ignition scheme

Abstract

The success of fast ignitor scheme will ultimately relies on the efficient generation and propagation of enormous number of high-energy charged particles. Particle-in-cell simulations aimed at improving the coupling efficiency of input laser energy deposited to a compressed core by using a double cone are described. Quasistatic magnetic fields generated at the vacuum layer inside the double cones are found to play an important role in confining the high energy electrons. The double cones result in the confinement and focusing of about 15% of the input energy for deposition in the compressed core. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.