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(IFP/09) Super-penetration of Ultra-intense Laser Light in Long Scale Length Plasmas Relevant to Fast Ignitor

R. Kodama¹⁾, K. Mima¹⁾, K. A. Tanaka²⁾, Y. Kitagawa¹⁾, H. Fujita¹⁾, T. Norimatsu¹⁾, H. Yoshida¹⁾, Y. Sentoku¹⁾, T. Kawamura¹⁾, H. Habara¹⁾, Y. Tohyama¹⁾, M. Tampo¹⁾, T. Miyakoshi¹⁾, Y. Izawa¹⁾, T. Yamanaka^1)
 
1) Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
²⁾ The Faculty of Engineering, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan

Abstract.  The scheme of fast ignition (FI) in inertial fusion energy (IFE) would have the advantage to obtain higher pellet gains with a smaller energy driver as compared with the conventional method or self-ignition scheme making a central hot spark. Ultra-intense laser interactions with long scale length plasmas are especially essential for the FI research. We have studied the interactions with long scale-length plasmas using our 50-100 TW laser systems and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation codes. We focused on the generation and transport of high energy density particles in the interactions as well as the laser beam behavior in long scale-length plasmas. A super penetration mode of ultra-intense laser light has been observed to penetrate in the long scale plasma to the solid density surface. The penetrated laser pulse has been efficiently converted to energetic electrons and ions. These results are hopeful for the progress of FI research in IFE.

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