Simulating Poynting Flux Acceleration in the Laboratory with Colliding Laser Pulses
arXiv:astro-ph/0611683 · doi:10.1007/s10509-006-9281-y
Abstract
We review recent PIC simulation results which show that double-sided irradiation of a thin over-dense plasma slab with ultra-intense laser pulses from both sides can lead to sustained comoving Poynting flux acceleration of electrons to energies much higher than the conventional ponderomotive limit. The result is a robust power-law electron momentum spectrum similar to astrophysical sources. We discuss future ultra-intense laser experiments that may be used to simulate astrophysical particle acceleration.
Paper accepted for publication in the Astrophysics and Space Science, Volume for HEDLA06 conference proceedings, edited by G. Kyrala, in press