Generating energetic electron generation through staged-acceleration in the two-plasmon-decay instability in inertial confinement fusion

A new hot-electron generation mechanism in two-plasmon-decay instabilities is described based on a
series of 2D, long-term ( 10 ps) particle-in-cell and fluid simulations under parameters relevant to
inertial confinement fusion. The simulations show that significant laser absorption and hot-electron
generation occur in the nonlinear stage. The hot electrons are stage accelerated from the low-density
region to the high-density region. New modes with small phase velocities develop in the low-density
region in the nonlinear stage and form the first stage for electron acceleration. Electron-ion collisions are
shown to significantly reduce the efficiency of this acceleration mechanism