High Harmonic Generation from Relativistic Plasma

Laser technology has recently made accessible§relativistic intensities. The contemporary§relativistic laser-plasma physics is in urgent need§of new ideas to explain the highly non-linear§response of matter exposed to radiation driving§electrons nearly to the speed of light. This book§studies relativistic laser-matter interaction with§emphasis on coherent X-ray generation and phenomena§at the critical surface. The theory of relativistic§spikes predicts the universal harmonic spectrum and§the X-ray source s robustness, which were confirmed§experimentally. It describes the generation of high§energy electrons by the critical surface and coherent§X-rays at the front and rear plasma side. This theory§shows the universal features of relativistic dynamics§and their connection to similarity, which§traditionally advances hydrodynamics and engineering.§Tunable coherent X-ray sources and attosecond§metrology are some of the perspective applications of§the novel physics. The book is intended for graduate§and postgraduate students, scientists and engineers§interested in relativistic laser-plasma theory, X-ray§sources, ultra-short pulses, inertial fusion and§original ideas of modern physics.