Local oscillating electron heating mechanism during laser plasma interaction

The interaction between laser and plasma has been studied using a 2.5 dimensional particle simulation code. The results show that electrons are accelerated by J x B heating mechanism and a strong electrostatic field is caused by charge separation, which has a potential well structure. Electrons are oscillating in electrostatic field potential wells and can be accelerated many times. Some electrons with higher velocity escape from potential wells, so that charge separation becomes stronger and stronger, and then electrostatic fields break up and electrons get the energy of electrostatic field. During the process, electrons are oscillating locally and accelerated, their relativistic kinetic energy can reach over 10 MeV. This is a new kind of heating mechanism and is named local oscillating electron heating mechanism. (authors)