A Superintense Laser-Plasma Interaction Theory Primer

The continuous trend towards higher and higher laser intensities has opened the way to new physical regimes and advanced applications of laser-plasma interactions, thus stimulating novel connections with ultrafast optics, astrophysics, particle physics, and biomedical applications. This book is primarily oriented towards students and young researchers who need to acquire rapidly a basic knowledge of this active and rapidly changing research field. To this aim, the presentation is focused on a selection of basic models and inspiring examples, and includes topics which emerged recently such as ion acceleration, "relativistic engineering" and radiation friction. The contents are presented in a self-contained way assuming only a basic knowledge of classical electrodynamics, mechanics and relativistic dynamics at the undergraduate (Bachelor) level, without requiring any previous knowledge of plasma physics. Hence, the book may serve in several ways: as a compact textbook for lecture courses, as a short and accessible introduction for the newcomer, as a quick reference for the experienced researcher, and also as an introduction to some nonlinear mathematical methods through examples of their application to laser-plasma modeling.

Interest in the book because of the limited number of other books on similar topics Concise size (100 pages) and timely contents making the book attractive and complementary to more extended, but less updated work Accessibility to students, newcomers and non-specialists, by adopting a problem-oriented approach which simplifies the mathematical description but keeps self-consistency Suitability of the book as the main textbook of an introductory lecture course on laser-plasma interactions, or as an additional textbook for a more general course on plasma physics Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Contenu

1. Introduction.- 2. From one to many electrons.- 3. Relativistic nonlinear waves in plasmas.- 4. Electron acceleration.- 6. Photon acceleration and relativistic engineering.