Cross-Filament Stochastic Acceleration of Electrons in Kilojoule Picosecond Laser Interactions with Near Critical Density Plasmas

Abstract: Understanding the interaction of kilojoule, picosecond laser pulse with long-scale length preplasma or homogeneous near critical density (NCD) plasma is crucial for guiding experiments at national short-pulse laser facilities. Using full three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, we demonstrate that in this regime, cross-filament stochastic acceleration is an important mechanism that contributes to the production of superponderomotive, high-flux electron beams. Since the laser power significantly exceeds the threshold of the relativistic self-focusing, multiple filaments are generated and can propagate independently over a long distance. Electrons jump across the filaments during the acceleration, and their motion becomes stochastic. We find that the effective temperature of electrons increases with the total interaction time following a scaling like $T_{\rm eff}\propto\tau_{i}^{0.65}$. By irradiating a submillimeter thick NCD target, the space charge of electrons with energy above 2.5 MeV reaches tens of $\mu$C. Such high-flux electrons with superponderomotive energies significantly facilitate applications in high-energy-density science, nuclear science, secondary sources and diagnostic techniques.