Modelling the effect of the radiation reaction force on the acceleration of ultra-thin foils

M. J. Duff, R. Capdessus, M. King, D. Del Sorbo, C. P. Ridgers, P. McKenna

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution book

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Abstract

An investigation of the effects of the radiation reaction force on radiation pressure acceleration is presented. Through 1D(3V) PIC code simulations, it is found that radiation reaction causes a decrease in the target velocity during the interaction of an ultra-intense laser pulse with a solid density thin foil of varying thickness. This change in the target velocity can be related to the loss of backwards-directed electrons due to cooling and reflection in the laser field. The loss of this electron population changes the distribution of the emitted synchrotron radiation. We demonstrate that it is the emission of radiation which leads to the observed decrease in target velocity. Through a modification to the light sail equation of motion (which is used to describe radiation pressure acceleration in thin foils), which accounts for the conversion of laser energy to synchrotron radiation, we can describe this change in target velocity. This model can be tested in future experiments with ultra-high intensity lasers, and will lead to a better understanding of the process of relativistically induced transparency in the new intensity regime.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationProc. SPIE 10241, Research Using Extreme Light
Subtitle of host publicationEntering New Frontiers with Petawatt-Class Lasers III
EditorsGeorg Korn, Luis O. Silva
Place of PublicationBellingham, WA
Number of pages10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Jun 2017

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE
PublisherSPIE
Volume10241

Keywords

  • high-field physics
  • radiation reaction force
  • radiation pressure acceleration

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