The interaction of ultrafast laser pulses of relativistic intensity with high aspect ratio nanostructures can efficiently and volumetrically heat matter to an ultra-high-energy-density regime encountered in the center of stars and within the core of fusion capsules compressed by the world’s largest lasers. It also generates gigantic quasi-static electromagnetic fields that accelerate particles to very high energy. Here, we present an overview of the physics and applications of these dense relativistic plasmas that can be created with pulses of relatively modest energy from lasers that can operate at a high repetition rate. Recent nanowire array experiments produced near-solid density plasmas with an extreme degree of ionization (e.g., {{\rm Au}^{+ 72}}${{\rm Au}^{+ 72}}$), converted ultrafast pulses of laser light into intense x-ray flashes with record efficiency, and accelerated ions to MeV energies, efficiently driving micro-scale fusion reactions that generate flashes of quasi-monoenergetic neutrons. These plasmas also serve as a platform for advancing the understanding of atomic processes in extreme environments and open a new pathway to laser-driven fusion energy. The irradiation of nanostructures at intensities of {\gt} {1} \times {{10}^{22}}\;{\rm W}\;{{\rm cm}^{- 2}}${\gt} {1} \times {{10}^{22}}\;{\rm W}\;{{\rm cm}^{- 2}}$ is predicted to lead to an extreme ultra-high energy density plasma regime characterized by terabar pressures that is virtually unexplored.

中文翻译：

---

超强飞秒激光与排列纳米结构的相互作用

相对论强度的超快激光脉冲与高纵横比纳米结构的相互作用可以有效地将物质加热到恒星中心和由世界上最大的激光器压缩的聚变胶囊核心中遇到的超高能量密度状态。它还产生巨大的准静态电磁场，将粒子加速到非常高的能量。在这里，我们概述了这些致密相对论性等离子体的物理和应用，这些等离子体可以用来自能够以高重复率运行的激光的相对适度能量的脉冲产生。最近的纳米线阵列实验产生了具有极高电离度的近固体密度等离子体（例如，{{\rm Au}^{+ 72}}${{\rm Au}^{+ 72}}$），以创纪录的效率将超快激光脉冲转换为强烈的X射线闪光，并且将离子加速至 MeV 能量，有效驱动产生准单能中子闪光的微尺度聚变反应。这些等离子体还可以作为促进对极端环境中原子过程的理解的平台，并开辟激光驱动聚变能的新途径。以 {\gt} {1} \times {{10}^{22}}\;{\rm W}\;{{\rm cm}^{- 2}}${\gt} {1} \times {{10}^{22}}\;{\rm W}\;{{\rm cm}^{- 2}}$强度照射纳米结构预计会导致达到以太巴压力为特征的极高能量密度等离子体状态，这实际上是未经探索的。