Controlling the interaction of tightly focused 10-PW class lasers with multicomponent plasma via target parameters: optimization of electron-positron pair and $γ$-photon sources

Abstract

The interaction of multipetawatt lasers with plasma is a complex multiparameter problem, providing a wide field for fundamental research and opening up great opportunities for creating unique sources of high-energy electrons and positrons, dense pair plasma, and $γ$-photons. However, to achieve high efficiency of such a source, it is necessary to use targets with optimized parameters, primarily density and size, for the given laser parameters. With the use of 3D QED-PIC modeling it is shown that, when targets whose size is comparable with the laser wavelength are irradiated by laser beams with a total power of several tens of PW, the total initial number of target electrons may be regarded to be the similarity parameter of laser-plasma interaction. In practice, this can significantly simplify the selection of the targets needed for controlling the interaction and, accordingly, for achieving the specified parameters of the developed electron-positron plasma and $γ$-photon sources. Based on the similarity parameter, various laser-plasma interaction modes are identified, the necessary conditions for their launch are determined, and the properties of the pair particle and $γ$-photon source are revealed. Moreover, qualitative estimates of the quantitative and energy characteristics of such a source are obtained, allowing it to be optimized for various laser beam configurations.