Observation of enhanced absorption of laser radiation by nanostructured targets in PIC simulations

Abstract

It is well known that Brunel's vacuum heating mechanism is operative for laser energy absorption when the target plasma density rises sharply. For non-relativistic laser intensities and planar targets, it is also necessary that the laser should strike the target at oblique incidence. The laser electric field at oblique incidence has a component normal to the surface to extract electrons from the target in the vacuum region for Brunel's mechanism to be operative. At relativistic laser intensities, the oblique incidence is not necessarily required as the