On the energy of ions at the expansion of a hot plasma layer into vacuum

We re-examine one-pion exchange as a possible binding mechanism in the X (3872) charmonium-like state and argue it to be not sufficiently binding for this purpose. We conclude therefore that other short-range dynamics are responsible for the X formation.     

Acceleration of ions by “slow” intense laser light in low-density targets

The mechanism of synchronized acceleration of ions by slow intense laser light is studied in application to available low-density targets of a new generation, which open prospects for experimental detection of a new effect of acceleration of protons.     

Electron acceleration by a short relativistic laser pulse at the front of solid targets

Acceleration of electrons in a low-density plasma in front of a solid target by a propagating short ultraintense laser pulse is studied. When the laser is reflected at the target surface the accelerated electrons, with energy scaling as the laser intensity, continue to move forward inertially and thus escape from the pulse. Electrons accelerated backwards by the reflected light can attain even higher energies due to their longer acceleration length and their high initial momentum from a relativistic return current.     

Coulomb acceleration of light ions from homogeneous and layered targets

As applied to the problem of laser-induced ion acceleration, we have developed a theory for the expansion of a completely ionized thin two-ion-species target in the regime of a Coulomb explosion typical of the interaction of relativistically intense femtosecond laser pulses with nanofoils. Based on this theory and a simple numerical model, we have studied the generation of bunches of quasi-monoenergetic light ions and found their characteristics as a function of target parameters. We have performed a comparative analysis of the acceleration of light ions uniformly distributed in the target and concentrated in the form of a thin layer. For the production of high-quality accelerated ion beams, we have found optimal conditions that were qualitatively confirmed by our three-dimensional kinetic simulations of the laser pulse-thin target interaction.     

Relativistic coulomb explosion of spherical microplasma

The nonlinear problem of the expansion of a uniform spherical cluster, which consists of ions with a charge sufficient to accelerate relativistic energies has been solved precisely. It has been shown that relativistic non-linearity is responsible for the formation of an expanding shell-type structure. The space-time and energy characteristics of the relativistically exploding cluster have been found.     

Neutron Production from Structured Targets Irradiated By an Ultrashort Laser Pulse

Journal of Russian Laser Research - We study the laser-driven generation of thermonuclear neutrons from targets with a microstructured surface in the form of deuterated microwires, using...     

Laser acceleration of light impurity from an ultrathin foil of complex ionic composition

The model of acceleration of light impurity particles from a planar ultrathin foil of complex ionic composition under an ultrashort high-power high-contrast laser pulse is proposed. Both the mode of pure Coulomb acceleration of ions, characteristic of extremely high electron energies, and acceleration under conditions of spatial charge separation controlled by a finite characteristic electron temperature are studied. Accurate and approximate analytical approaches for describing impurity particle acceleration are formulated. Spatial and spectral characteristics of accelerated particles are determined. Particle dynamics is studied in both the approximation of test impurity particles and taking into account their intrinsic electrostatic field, depending on the relative charge density of light particles.     

Modeling of Laser Generation and Propagation of Electron Bunch Along Thin Irradiated Wire

Three-dimensional numerical PIC simulation allowed the detection and study of the formation of an electron bunch moving with relativistic velocity along a thin metal wire during its irradiation with a short laser pulse of relativistic intensity. The bunch motion is accompanied by electromagnetic surface-type pulses.     

New solutions in the theory of self-focusing with saturating nonlinearity

On the basis of an approximate analytic solution of a Cauchy problem for a nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation describing steady-state light beams in a medium with saturating nonlinearity by the method of renormgroup (RG) symmetries, a classification of self-focusing solutions is given depending on two control parameters: the relative contributions of diffraction and nonlinearity and the saturation strength of the nonlinearity. The existence of tube-type self-focusing solutions is proved for an entering beam with Gaussian radial distribution of intensity. Numerical simulation is carried out that allows one to verify the theory developed and to determine its applicability limits.