Measurement of fast electrons spectra generated by interaction between solid target and peta watt laser

Abstract

Fast electron energy spectra have been measured for a range of intensities between 1018 Wcm-2 and 1021 Wcm-2 and for different target materials using electron spectrometers. Several experimental campaigns were conducted on peta watt laser facilities at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and Osaka University. In these experimental campaigns, the pulse duration was varied from 0.5 ps to 5 ps. The laser incident angle was also changed from normal incidence to 40° in p-polarized. The results show a reduction from the ponderomotive scaling on fast electrons over 1020 Wcm-2. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.