Semi‐Lagrangian Vlasov‐Maxwell Simulations of Self‐Sustained Kinetic Electron Nonlinear Waves in the Relativistic Laser‐Plasma Interaction

Abstract

From a Hamiltonian analysis, a Vlasov‐Maxwell model was developed to study the interaction of intense laser pulse in plasma conditions relevant to the fast ignitor concept. We report here the first observation of self‐sustained kinetic electron nonlinear waves driven by high‐intensity laser pulse in a moderately underdense or overdense plasma.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the IDRIS (Institut du Développement et des Ressources pour l'Informatique Scientifique, CNRS, Orsay, France) for computer time allocation on their supercomputers. The authors are grateful to B. Afeyan, P. Mora, E. Sonnendrücker, and in general the members of the CALVI team for helpful discussions.