Observation and characterization of laser-driven Phase Space Electron Holes

TL;DR

This paper reports the first direct observation and detailed characterization of laser-driven Electron Holes in plasma using proton radiography, revealing their velocity, potential, and density profiles with high resolution.

Contribution

It provides the first full experimental characterization of laser-generated Electron Holes, including their velocity, potential, and density profiles, using proton radiography.

Findings

Electron Holes were observed during laser-matter interaction.

Proton radiography enabled detailed measurement of EH properties.

The technique achieved high spatial and temporal resolution.

Abstract

The direct observation and full characterization of a Phase Space Electron Hole (EH) generated by laser-matter interaction is presented. This structure has been detected via proton radiography during the interaction between an intense laser pulse (t=1ns temporally flat-top, I= 10^14W/cm^2) and a gold 26 micron thick hohlraum. This technique has allowed us the simultaneous detection of propagation velocity, potential and electron density spatial profile across the EH with fine spatial and temporal resolution providing an unprecedentedly detailed experimental characterization.