Optimal attosecond pulses generation from oscillating plasma surfaces driven at relativistic intensity

Abstract

The creation of attosecond pulses via laser-plasma interaction has been a subject of great scientific interest for more than three decades. This process is investigated by using particle-in-cell simulation with varying the plasma and laser parameters. The steepness of the density gradient at the plasma-vacuum interface is examined to see how this parameter affects the high-order harmonic generations and isolated-attosecond pulse creation. The optimal density gradient lengths $L$ are explored within the relativistic oscillating mirror mechanism. Although the ideal gradient lengths for the full width at half maximum and peak intensity of an isolated-attosecond pulse depend on the driving laser intensity independently, they are both found near $L$=0.2$\lambda$ for high laser intensities.