A "slingshot" laser-driven acceleration mechanism of plasma electrons

TL;DR

This paper discusses the 'slingshot effect', a laser-driven plasma electron acceleration mechanism where ultra-intense laser pulses expel high-energy electrons from plasma surfaces, offering a novel approach to particle acceleration.

Contribution

It introduces and explains the 'slingshot effect', a new electron acceleration mechanism driven by ultra-short, ultra-intense laser pulses impacting plasma surfaces.

Findings

The impact of laser pulses can expel high-energy electrons in the opposite direction of pulse propagation.

The mechanism relies on the interplay of ponderomotive force, charge separation, and laser spot size.

The effect provides a potential new method for plasma-based electron acceleration.

Abstract

We briefly report on the recently proposed [G. Fiore, R. Fedele, U. de Angelis, Phys. Plasmas 21 (2014), 113105], [G. Fiore, S. De Nicola, arXiv:1509.04656] electron acceleration mechanism named "slingshot effect": under suitable conditions the impact of an ultra-short and ultra-intense laser pulse against the surface of a low-density plasma is expected to cause the expulsion of a bunch of superficial electrons with high energy in the direction opposite to that of the pulse propagation; this is due to the interplay of the huge ponderomotive force, huge longitudinal field arising from charge separation, and the finite size of the laser spot.