Theory of Light Sail Acceleration by Intense Lasers: an Overview
arXiv:1403.6273
Abstract
A short overview of the theory of acceleration of thin foils driven by the radiation pressure of superintense lasers is presented. A simple criterion for radiation pressure dominance at intensities around $5 \times 10^{20} \mbox{W cm}^{-2}$ is given, and the possibility for fast energy gain in the relativistic regime is discussed.
arXiv commentTo appear in High Power Laser Science and Engineering, invited paper for special issue on "Large-scale Laser and Laser Acceleration"