High-Order Harmonics from Bow Wave Caustics Driven by a High-Intensity Laser

T. Zh. Esirkepov, A. S. Pirozhkov, M. Kando, P. Gallegos, H. Ahmed, E. N. Ragozin, A. Ya. Faenov, T. A. Pikuz, T. Kawachi, A. Sagisaka, J. K. Koga, M. Coury, J. Green, P. Foster, C. Brenner, B. Dromey, D. R. Symes, M. Mori, K. Kawase, T. KameshimaY. Fukuda, L. M. Chen, I. Daito, K. Ogura, Y. Hayashi, H. Kotaki, H. Kiriyama, H. Okada, N. Nishimori, T. Imazono, K. Kondo, T. Kimura, T. Tajima, H. Daido, P. Rajeev, P. Mckenna, M. Borghesi, D. Neely, Y. Kato, S. V. Bulanov

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

Abstract

We propose a new mechanism of high-order harmonic generation during an interaction of a high-intensity laser pulse with underdense plasma. A tightly focused laser pulse creates a cavity in plasma pushing electrons aside and exciting the wake wave and the bow wave. At the joint of the cavity wall and the bow wave boundary, an annular spike of electron density is formed. This spike surrounds the cavity and moves together with the laser pulse. Collective motion of electrons in the spike driven by the laser field generates high-order harmonics. A strong localization of the electron spike, its robustness to oscillations imposed by the laser field and, consequently, its ability to produce high-order harmonics is explained by catastrophe theory. The proposed mechanism explains the experimental observations of high-order harmonics with the 9 TW J-KAREN laser (JAEA, Japan) and the 120 TW Astra Gemini laser (CLF RAL, UK) [A. S. Pirozhkov, et al., arXiv:1004.4514 (2010); A. S. Pirozhkov et al, AIP Proceedings, this volume]. The theory is corroborated by high-resolution two- and three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLASER-DRIVEN RELATIVISTIC PLASMAS APPLIED TO SCIENCE, ENERGY, INDUSTRY, AND MEDICINE
EditorsSV Bulanov, A Yokoyama, YI Malakhov, Y Watanabe
Place of PublicationMELVILLE
PublisherAMER INST PHYSICS
Pages172-180
Number of pages9
Volume1465
ISBN (Print)978-0-7354-1070-1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012
Event3rd International Symposium on Laser-Driven Relativistic Plasmas Applied to Science, Energy, Industry and Medicine/12th Symposium on Advanced Photon Research - Kizugawa, Japan
Duration: 30 May 201102 Jun 2011

Conference

Conference3rd International Symposium on Laser-Driven Relativistic Plasmas Applied to Science, Energy, Industry and Medicine/12th Symposium on Advanced Photon Research
Country/TerritoryJapan
CityKizugawa
Period30/05/201102/06/2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physics and Astronomy(all)

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