Guided electromagnetic discharge pulses driven by short intense laser pulses: Characterization and modeling

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Abstract
Strong electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) are generated from intense laser interactions with solid-density targets and can be guided by the target geometry, specifically through conductive connections to the ground. We present an experimental characterization by time- and spatial-resolved proton deflectometry of guided electromagnetic discharge pulses along wires including a coil, driven by 0.5 ps, 50 J, 1019 W/cm2 laser pulses. Proton-deflectometry allows us to time-resolve first the EMP due to the laser-driven target charging and then the return EMP from the ground through the conductive target stalk. Both EMPs have a typical duration of tens of ps and correspond to currents in the kA-range with electric-field amplitudes of multiple GV/m. The sub-mm coil in the target rod creates lensing effects on probing protons due to both magnetic- and electric-field contributions. This way, protons of the 10 MeV-energy range are focused over cm-scale distances. Experimental results are supported by analytical modeling and high-resolution numerical particle-in-cell simulations, unraveling the likely presence of a surface plasma, in which parameters define the discharge pulse dispersion in the non-linear propagation regime.
Funding Information
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR-10-IDEX-03-02)
  • EUROfusion (633053)
  • EUROfusion (101052200)
  • Ministry of Science and Education of the Russian Federation (FSWU-2020-0035)
  • Grand Equipment National de Calcul Intensif (2016-056129)
  • Grand Equipment National de Calcul Intensif (2017-056129)
  • Aquitaine Regional Council POPRA (29910)
  • Initiative of Excellence of the University of Bordeaux
  • CRA-ARIEL

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