Investigation on the origin of hot electrons in laser plasma interaction at shock ignition intensities

G. Cristoforetti, F. Baffigi, D. Batani, R. Dudzak, R. Fedosejevs, E. D. Filippov, P. Gajdos, L. Juha, M. Khan, P. Koester, M. Krus, D. Mancelli, A. S. Martynenko, Ph. Nicolai, S. A. Pikuz, O. Renner, A. Tentori, L. Volpe, N. Woolsey, G. Zeraouli and L. A. Gizzi

Sci. Rep. 13, 20681 (2023)

Shock Ignition is a two-step scheme to reach Inertial Confinement Fusion, where the precompressed fuel capsule is ignited by a strong shock driven by a laser pulse at an intensity in the order of 10^16 W/cm2 . In this report we describe the results of an experiment carried out at PALS laser facility designed to investigate the origin of hot electrons in laser-plasma interaction at intensities and plasma temperatures expected for Shock Ignition. A detailed time- and spectrally-resolved characterization of Stimulated Raman Scattering and Two Plasmon Decay instabilities, as well as of the generated hot electrons, suggest that Stimulated Raman Scattering is the dominant source of hot electrons via the damping of daughter plasma waves. The temperature dependence of laser plasma instabilities was also investigated, enabled by the use of different ablator materials, suggesting that Two Plasmon Decay is damped at earlier times for higher plasma temperatures, accompanied by an earlier ignition of SRS. The identification of the predominant hot electron source and the effect of plasma temperature on laser plasma interaction, here investigated, are extremely useful for developing the mitigation strategies for reducing the impact of hot electrons on the fuel ignition.