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

High energy gain in three-dimensional simulations of light sail acceleration / Sgattoni, A.; Sinigardi, S.; Macchi, A.. - In: APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS. - ISSN 0003-6951. - ELETTRONICO. - 105:8(2014), pp. 084105.0841051-084105.0841054. [10.1063/1.4894092]

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

SINIGARDI, STEFANO;
2014

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
2014
High energy gain in three-dimensional simulations of light sail acceleration / Sgattoni, A.; Sinigardi, S.; Macchi, A.. - In: APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS. - ISSN 0003-6951. - ELETTRONICO. - 105:8(2014), pp. 084105.0841051-084105.0841054. [10.1063/1.4894092]
Sgattoni, A.; Sinigardi, S.; Macchi, A.
File in questo prodotto:
Eventuali allegati, non sono esposti

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/572894
 Attenzione

Attenzione! I dati visualizzati non sono stati sottoposti a validazione da parte dell'ateneo

Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 18
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 15
social impact