Observations of plasma heating by fast electron transport at the back side of solid targets
Abstract
Fast adiabatic plasma heating of a thin solid target irradiated by a high intensity laser has been observed by optical fast interferometry diagnostic. It is driven by the hot electron current induced by the laser plasma interaction at the front side of the target. Radial and longitudinal temperature profiles are calculated to reproduce the observed rear side plasma expansion. The main parameters of the suprathermal electrons have been calculated from these observations.