Experimental evidence for various mechanisms for suprathermal electron generation in P-polarized laser produced plasmas

The angular dependence of the absorbed laser energy which appears in suprathermal electrons and their temperature have been studied in P-polarization, in laser produced plasmas. We have used two laser wavelengths 10.6 μm and 0.53 μm at irradiances of 1012 and 1014 W/cm2 respectively, focused on plane mylar targets. The results show that in addition to resonant absorption fast electrons are generated (at an incidence angle of the laser beam of 60°) by another mechanism. The results are consistent with the latter, that is, with two plasmon decay instability.