Ultrarelativistic nanoplasmonics as a new route towards extreme intensity attosecond pulses

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel relativistic nanoplasmonic method to generate ultra-intense attosecond pulses via laser-plasma interactions, surpassing previous approaches and enabling new high-intensity experimental applications.

Contribution

The authors develop a new nonlinear model for relativistic laser-plasma interactions that significantly improves understanding and predicts the generation of extreme intensity attosecond pulses.

Findings

Model agrees well with particle-in-cell simulations.

Potential to reach intensities above 10^26 W/cm^2 with upcoming lasers.

Demonstrates a new route for extreme light generation.

Abstract

The generation of ultra-strong attosecond pulses through laser-plasma interactions offers the opportunity to surpass the intensity of any known laboratory radiation source, giving rise to new experimental possibilities, such as quantum electrodynamical tests and matter probing at extremely short scales. Here we demonstrate that a laser irradiated plasma surface can act as an efficient converter from the femto- to the attosecond range, giving a dramatic rise in pulse intensity. Although seemingly similar schemes have been presented in the literature, the present setup deviates significantly from previous attempts. We present a new model describing the nonlinear process of relativistic laser-plasma interaction. This model, which is applicable to a multitude of phenomena, is shown to be in excellent agreement with particle-in-cell simulations. We provide, through our model, the necessary details for an experiment to be performed. The possibility to reach intensities above 10^26 W/cm^2, using upcoming 10 petawatt laser sources, is demonstrated.