Control of fast electron propagation in foam target by high-Z doping

The influence of high-Z dopant (Bromine) in low-Z foam (polystyrene) target on laser-driven fast electron propagation is studied by the 3D hybrid particle-in-cell (PIC)/fluid code HEETS.It is found that the fast electrons are better confined in doped targets due to the increasing resistivity of the target, which induces a stronger resistive magnetic field which acts to collimate the fast electron propagation.The energy deposition of fast electrons into the background target is increased slightly in the doped target, which is beneficial for applications requiring long distance propagation of fast electrons, such as fast ignition

Shock Waves and Cosmological Matrix Models

We find the shock wave solutions in a class of cosmological backgrounds with a null singularity, each of these backgrounds admits a matrix description. A shock wave solution breaks all supersymmetry meanwhile indicates that the interaction between two static D0-branes cancel, thus provides basic evidence for the matrix description. The probe action of a D0-brane in the background of another suggests that the usual perturbative expansion of matrix model breaks down.Comment: 10 pages, harvmav, v2: some comments on instability added, v3: version to appear in JHE