Transformation of laser radiation into post-solitons with ion acceleration

摘要

With 2D particle in cell simulations we show that during the interaction of a high intensity ultra short laser pulse with a collisionless plasma in the wake of the laser pulse electromagnetic relativistically strong solitons are formed, which evolve asymptotically into post-solitons. A post-soliton is a slowly expanding cavity in the ion and electron densities which traps electromagnetic energy. Past ions are accelerated during the post-soliton formation. The long time evolution of the post-solitons in an inhomogeneous plasma slab is investigated. The spectra of the electromagnetic energy radiated by the post-solitons are analyzed.