Transport of hot electron currents in solid targets irradiated by high intensity short laser pulses

Abstract

We have analyzed the transport of hot electrons generated in the interaction between a short-pulse, ultra-high intensity laser beam (pulse duration τ 1018 W.cm 2.um2) and a solid or dense target through the use of proton emission imaging. We used targets of different material (Cu, Al, Au) with a regularly modulated rear target surface in order to compare the electron transport in different conditions. As result, we see that the electron transport depends on the target material and on the interaction conditions. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.