Theory of light sail acceleration by intense lasers: an overview. (1st April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Macchi, Andrea
• Is Part Of: High power laser science and engineering. Volume 2 (2014)
• Page Start: 15
• Page End: 53
• Publication Date: 2014-04-01
• Subjects: High power lasers -- Periodicals; 621.366
• DOI: 10.1017/hpl.2014.13
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2095-4719

Abstract

<abstract> <title>Abstract</title> <p>A short overview of the theory of acceleration of thin foils driven by the radiation pressure of superintense lasers is presented. A simple criterion for radiation pressure dominance at intensities around <inline-formula><alternatives><inline-graphic xlink:href="ark:/27927/pgj449hnfv" xlink:type="simple" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" /><tex-math><![CDATA[$5 \times 10^{20}\ \mbox{W cm}^{-2}$]]></tex-math></alternatives></inline-formula> is given, and the possibility for fast energy gain in the relativistic regime is discussed.</p> </abstract>