Efficient electron heating by laser in finite sized plasma micro-globular targets by repeated collisions of surface and bulk waves

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a new laser energy absorption mechanism in finite plasma microglobules, where surface and bulk wave collisions repeatedly enhance particle energy, with efficiency governed by target size, using 2D PIC simulations.

Contribution

It introduces a novel energy absorption process in finite plasma targets based on wave collisions, highlighting the role of target size in energy transfer efficiency.

Findings

Energy absorption is enhanced by repeated wave collisions.

Target size controls the timing and efficiency of energy episodes.

Closed plasma targets facilitate repeated energy transfer and thermalization.

Abstract

A new mechanism of enhanced laser energy absorption in plasma microglobules is demonstrated with the help of two-dimensional Particle-In-Cell (PIC) simulations. The mechanism relies on the excitation of surface and bulk waves and the occurrence of repeated collisions in the confines of the finite-sized microglobular target. The episodic increase in the average particle energy correlates with the repeated collision of the surface and bulk waves that get excited by the laser on the target. It is shown that the size of the microglobular target governs the efficiency of absorption and the timings of episodic events of energy enhancement. This study thereby illustrates the novel efficient possibility that a closed plasma target provides for energy extraction. Parallels of such colliding waves creating havoc in terms of wave breaking etc. can be witnessed on the ocean surface, seismic disturbances traversing as body waves traverse reflecting and refracting in the interior of the Earth along with surface waves (propagating on the curved surface of the Earth) converge at the antipode to create destruction. Our studies here show the importance of choosing closed targets which aid in the process of repeated energy transfer to particles and often their thermalization. The waves keep propagating in the closed confines rather than getting dissipated over an extended region as would happen for extended targets.