Field structure and electron density profile in circularly polarized femtosecond laser interaction with a linear plasma

The electron density profile is solved self-consistently in circularly polarized femtosecond laser vertically interacting with a linear plasma. The result shows that a set of electron islands and cavities are produced in the relativistic plasma. The laser energy is partially trapped in these cavities due to strong static electric fields caused by the separation of electrons and ions. The dependence of the trapped static electric energy on the laser intensity is also discussed