Enhanced surface acceleration of fast electrons by using subwavelength grating targets.

Surface acceleration of fast electrons in intense laser-plasma interaction is investigated by using subwavelength grating targets. The fast electron beam emitted along the target surface was enhanced by more than three times relative to that by using planar target. The total number of the fast electrons ejected from the front surface of grating target was two times higher than that of planar target. The method to enhance the surface acceleration of fast electrons may have several applications such as in ion acceleration and the experiment of high energy density physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]