SIMULATION STUDIES OF LASER-DRIVEN ION ACCELERATION BY ULTRASHORT LASER PULSES

Abstract

Particle-in-cell simulations are an efficient tool in the research of laser-plasma interactions. They enable to study physical phenomena with a high temporal and spatial resolution and, thus, help with the interpretation of experimental results and/or with theoretical predictions. This habilitation thesis summarizes the contribution of the author in the field of ion acceleration by ultrashort laser pulses mostly based on the simulations. After a brief description of the simu lation method and various ion acceleration mechanisms, it focuses on authors’ main results in this field in the form of his commented articles published in impacted journals. Finally, research topics possibly investigated in the future and related to previous author’s work are briefly discussed.