Rayleigh-Taylor Instability of an Ultrathin Foil Accelerated by the Radiation Pressure of an Intense Laser

C. A. J. Palmer, J. Schreiber, S. R. Nagel, N. P. Dover, C. Bellei, F. N. Beg, S. Bott, R. J. Clarke, A. E. Dangor, S. M. Hassan, P. Hilz, D. Jung, S. Kneip, S. P. D. Mangles, K. L. Lancaster, A. Rehman, A. P. L. Robinson, C. Spindloe, J. Szerypo, M. TatarakisM. Yeung, M. Zepf, Z. Najmudin

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132 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report experimental evidence for a Rayleigh-Taylor-like instability driven by radiation pressure of an ultraintense (1021W/cm2) laser pulse. The instability is witnessed by the highly modulated profile of the accelerated proton beam produced when the laser irradiates a 5 nm diamondlike carbon (90% C, 10% H) target. Clear anticorrelation between bubblelike modulations of the proton beam and transmitted laser profile further demonstrate the role of the radiation pressure in modulating the foil. Measurements of the modulation wavelength, and of the acceleration from Doppler-broadening of back-reflected light, agree quantitatively with particle-in-cell simulations performed for our experimental parameters and which confirm the existence of this instability. © 2012 American Physical Society.
Original languageEnglish
Article number225002
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume108
Issue number22
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 29 May 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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