Three-dimensional simulation for the kinetics of electron–proton plasma with supercritical density in a powerful electromagnetic field of laser radiation

Abstract

Numerical solution of the Vlasov–Maxwell equations in a three-dimensional (3D) model for the interaction between a powerful electromagnetic field of laser radiation and electron–proton plasma with a supercritical density yields kinetic functions of electron and proton distribution versus time. In this work, such kinetics are analyzed in detail, which makes it possible to elucidate the mechanism underlying the important effect of the considered interaction, i.e., the effect of proton acceleration up to very high energies of dozens megaelectron-volts. This mechanism consists in transferring the momentum of the incident electromagnetic wave enhanced by the reflection effect of this wave to the proton component of the plasma. Qualitatively, these results are consistent with the physical experiments of the last decade. The paper also presents the calculation results for the distribution of all (six) components of the electromagnetic field inside the plasma with account for violation of the plasma electroneutrality. This work studies the kinetic properties of the plasma and is a continuation of our previous publications.