Generation >MeV electrons and x-rays with high intensity lasers and their propagation in dense media

The strong electromagnetic fields in plasmas created by PW lasers can accelerate the constituent electrons and ions to high energy over much shorter length scales than a conventional accelerator (to energies spanning MeV-GeV over microns-mm). This violent electron acceleration also leads to uniquely bright >MeV x-ray emission via poorly understood strong-field quantum electrodynamics processes [1]. High intensity lasers therefore have potential as compact sources of energetic particles and hard radiation. In this project, funded by DSTL, you will contribute to realising these sources by investigating the underlying fundamental quantum electrodynamics of the emission processes and plasma physics affecting the propagation of the produced beams of energetic particles in dense media. This will be done using analytical theory and simulation but also in collaboration with experimentalist colleagues. The project is in collaboration with CEA in Paris and you will have the opportunity to spend a substantial amount of time there.