Solitary versus Shock Wave Acceleration in Laser-Plasma Interactions

TL;DR

This paper investigates how ultraintense laser interactions with overdense plasmas generate nonlinear electrostatic waves, like shocks and solitons, affecting ion acceleration, with findings relevant to recent shock acceleration experiments.

Contribution

It provides a comparative analysis of solitary and shock wave acceleration mechanisms in laser-plasma interactions through numerical simulations.

Findings

Soliton stability depends on ion velocity distribution.

Monoenergetic ion spectra result from pulsed reflection off solitary waves.

Relevance to recent shock acceleration experiments is discussed.

Abstract

The excitation of nonlinear electrostatic waves, such as shock and solitons, by ultraintense laser interaction with overdense plasmas and related ion acceleration are investigated by numerical simulations. Stability of solitons and formation of shock waves is strongly dependent on the velocity distribution of ions. Monoenergetic components in ion spectra are produced by "pulsed" reflection from solitary waves. Possible relevance to recent experiments on "shock acceleration" is discussed.