High energy gain in three-dimensional simulations of light sail acceleration

Anno: 2014

Autori: Sgattoni A., Sinigardi S., Macchi A.

Affiliazione autori: Dipartimento di Energia, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy; CNR, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, u.o.s. “Adriano Gozzini,” Pisa, Italy; Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; INFN sezione di Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Dipartimento di Fisica “Enrico Fermi,” Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy

Abstract: The dynamics of radiation pressure acceleration in the relativistic light sail regime are analysed by means of large scale, three-dimensional (3D) particle-in-cell simulations. Differently to other mechanisms, the 3D dynamics leads to faster and higher energy gain than in 1D or 2D geometry. This effect is caused by the local decrease of the target density due to transverse expansion leading to a lighter sail. However, the rarefaction of the target leads to an earlier transition to transparency limiting the energy gain. A transverse instability leads to a structured and inhomogeneous ion distribution.

Giornale/Rivista: APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS

Volume: 105 (8)      Da Pagina: 84105-1  A: 84105-4

Maggiori informazioni: We are grateful to F. Pegoraro for enlightening discussions and to P. Londrillo for help with the ALaDyn code. We acknowledge PRACE for access to the BlueGene/Q FERMI, based in Italy at CINECA, via the project LSAIL. Support from MIUR, Italy, via the FIR project SULDIS is also acknowledged.
Parole chiavi: Energy gain; High energy gain; Ion distributions; Particle-in-cell simulations; Radiation pressure accelerations; Target density; Three dimensional simulations; Transverse instability
DOI: 10.1063/1.4894092

Citazioni: 16
dati da “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) aggiornati al: 2025-05-04
Riferimenti tratti da Isi Web of Knowledge: (solo abbonati)
Link per visualizzare la scheda su IsiWeb: Clicca qui
Link per visualizzare la citazioni su IsiWeb: Clicca qui