Ultra-short pulse electron generation with gas plasma and thin foil

Electron acceleration by sub Peta-watt laser radiation, especially for thin foils in the gas plasmas, is studied by 2D3V-PIC (Particle in Cell) numerical simulations. It is found that pulse shape design is important for the acceleration of the electrons. Ultra-short pulse intense laser can accelerate short bunched electrons over MeV in the laser pulse, for example 1020 W/cm2 -> 25 MeV, 1021 W/cm2 -> 250 MeV. However, such a accelerated electrons are deaccelerated in the laser pulse. In this paper, we present the method of separation of accelerated electrons from laser pulse with the thin foil. (author)