Laser-Driven Plasma Physics for Fusion, Acceleration and High-Energy-Density Science
This community investigates the interaction of intense laser light with matter to create extreme states of plasma, with applications in inertial confinement fusion, compact particle acceleration, and high-energy-density physics.
The work centers on the generation and control of high-intensity laser pulses, including femtosecond and petawatt-class systems, to drive plasma processes. Key recurring themes include laser wakefield acceleration for producing high-energy electron and ion beams, and the physics of inertial confinement fusion, specifically the dynamics of implosions, shock waves, and hydrodynamic instabilities such as the Rayleigh–Taylor and Richtmyer–Meshkov effects. The research also covers the production of secondary radiation sources, including neutrons and soft X-rays, and the development of diagnostic tools for measuring these extreme conditions.
The community’s output is distributed across several elements, with the largest shares of element-specific research found in beryllium (1.0%), argon (0.6%), and helium (0.5%). Beryllium also contributes the highest number of papers within this group, with 324 entries.
The community comprises 11,820 papers, publishing most frequently in Laser and Particle Beams, Physics of Plasmas, and Review of Scientific Instruments. Recent work continues to focus on inertial confinement fusion milestones, including scientific breakeven and target gain, as well as advancements in laser wakefield acceleration for generating ultra-high-brightness electron beams and attosecond pulses.