Computer simulation of radiation acceleration mode in laser-plasma interaction

We present numerical studies on the ion acceleration from thin foils irradiated by ultra-high contrast laser pulses. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations reveal that ions are for a certain time accelerated in a phase-stable way by the laser radiation pressure. The development of the Rayleigh–Taylor instability leads to destroy foils and to decelerate the ion acceleration rate.