ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the use of numerical techniques to get the essence of the physical mechanisms by which charged particles are accelerated by lasers. It also focuses on the numerical integration of the equations of motion for a single electron interacting with a laser and the particle-in-cell technique for laser–plasma interactions as tools to demonstrate the various properties. The chapter presents single electron motion in a laser wave and laser wake-field acceleration. It attempts to provide an overview of the acceleration methods for electrons interacting with very high irradiance laser pulses. Inhomogeneous plasmas are another method by which electrons can be injected into the accelerating phase of a wake wave. The megajoule laser facilities that are under construction in the United States and France are expected to demonstrate fusion energy gain within several years.
