The mechanics of generating MeV target surface fast electrons (SFEs) is investigated using a 5 J, 50 fs laser pulse focused on a Cu planar and nanowire target. The energy spectrum and spatial angular distribution of fast electrons emitted from the planar target are determined and compared with those from the nanowire target. When the laser intensity reaches 1 × 1019 W cm−2, the coupling from the laser to 1–3 MeV electrons reaches 1.1% on the planar target at a 45° incidence angle, while the number of SFEs generated from the nanowire target is about 10% of those from the planar target. The two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation results reproduce the electron emission characteristics and reveal a strong continuous surface magnetic field on the surface of the planar target as compared with the discrete magnetic field on the nanowire target which decreases SFEs. A high, hot electron temperature in the forward direction at 556keV is achieved for the nanowire structure capable of guiding and confining fast electrons along the wire direction, compared with 178keV for the planar target.
Laser-driven proton acceleration via excitation of surface plasmon polaritons into TiO2 nanotube array targets