Frontiers in Physics (Dec 2022)

Topological structure effects of Laguerre-Gaussian laser on self-collimation acceleration mechanism

  • H. Dong,
  • H. Dong,
  • W. P. Wang,
  • Z. X. Lv,
  • C. Jiang,
  • J. Z. He,
  • J. Z. He,
  • J. Z. He,
  • Y. X. Leng,
  • R. X. Li,
  • R. X. Li,
  • Z. Z. Xu,
  • Z. Z. Xu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2022.1054778
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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Energetic plasma beams can be generated through the interaction between a short-pulse high-intensity laser and solid target. However, obtaining collimated plasma beams with low divergence remains challenging. In this study, we devised a self-collimation scheme driven by a topologically structured Laguerre–Gaussian (LG) laser that irradiates a thin target in three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. It was observed that a high-density and narrow plasma beam could be formed by the intrinsic hollow intensity distribution of the LG laser. A magnetic tunnel was generated around the beam and collimated the plasma beam within a radius of hundreds of nanometers. This collimation can be enhanced by increasing the topological charge from l = 1 to l = 3 and then destroyed for a larger l. The collimation method is promising in applications requiring well-collimated energetic plasma beams, such as indirect drive inertial con-finement fusion, laboratory astrophysics, and radiation therapy.

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