Effects of Laser Polarization on Jet Emission of Fast Electrons in Femtosecond-Laser Plasmas

Abstract

Effects of laser polarization on fast electron emission are studied from an aluminum target irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses at 2 x 10(16) W/cm(2). Jet emission of outgoing fast electrons collimated in the polarization direction is observed for s-polarized laser irradiation, whereas for p-polarized irradiation highly directional emission of outgoing fast electrons is found in the direction close to the normal of the target. The behavior of ingoing fast electrons into the target for s- and p-polarized irradiation is also investigated by observing x-ray bremsstrahlung radiation at the backside of the target.