Investigation of the classical and quantum radiation reaction effect on interaction of ultra high power laser with near critical plasma

Abstract

In the present study, by using one dimensional PIC simulation, we investigate the radiation reaction (RR) effects on the plasma behaviors and self-consistent laser evolutions during the interaction of ultra-high intensity lasers (I~1022-1023 W/cm2) with near critical plasmas (one tenth to few times of the critical density). The results show that RR force has significant effects on the induced plasma disturbance and self-consistent laser evolutions. Generally, at higher intensities (~1023 W/cm2), introducing the RR effects leads to enhanced delivered electromagnetic energy to the plasma. This energy is either used to increase the mechanical energy of the plasma disturbance (increasing the effective absorption) or compensation of the radiation energy loss by ultra-violate photon emissions. At lower intensities (~1022 W/cm2), RR phenomenon mostly acts as a damping friction force, and reduces the effective absorption and the plasma wave amplitude. Though the friction effect of the RR force is conceptually well known, the observed enhanced absorption at higher intensities is a complex and anomalous nonlinear phenomenon. In addition, the presence of RR force introduces structural differences in the plasma disturbance and whence the absorption saturation. Here, along with reporting these phenomena as well as comparisons between the classical and quantum frameworks, their possible descriptions have been presented.

Keywords

• laser plasma interaction
• classical radiation reaction
• quantum radiation reaction