Issue Eur. Phys. J. D Volume 55, Number 2, November 2009 Topical issue on Fundamental physics and ultra-high laser fields Page(s) 407 - 414 Section Topical issue: Fundamental Physics and Ultra-High Laser Fields DOI 10.1140/epjd/e2009-00187-4 Published online 23 June 2009

Eur. Phys. J. D 55, 407-414 (2009)
DOI: 10.1140/epjd/e2009-00187-4

Relativistic high harmonics and (sub-)attosecond pulses: relativistic spikes and relativistic mirror

A. Pukhov, T. Baeva, D. an der Brügge and S. Münster

Institut für Theoretische Physik I, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany

pukhov@thphy.uni-duesseldorf.de

Received 17 November 2008 / Received in final form 29 April 2009 / Published online 23 June 2009

Abstract
Using particle-in-cell simulations, we study high harmonic generation from overdense plasmas in the relativistic regime. Different incidence angles as well as different laser polarizations are considered and scalings are recovered. It is shown that the theory of relativistic spikes and the BGP power-law spectra [Phys. Rev. E 74, 046404 (2006)] describes well the normal incidence and s-polarized obliquely incident laser pulses. In the case of p-polarized laser pulses, exceptions from the BGP theory can appear when the quasi-static vector potential build-up at the plasma boundary becomes equal to that of the laser. In this case, the spectrum flattens significantly and has a lower cutoff.

PACS
52.27.Ny - Relativistic plasmas.
42.65.Ky - Frequency conversion; harmonic generation, including higher-order harmonic generation.

© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2009

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