Abstract:
Electron dynamics in a thin target irradiated with femtosecond laser pulses at an intensity of 10$^{20}$ W/cm$^2$ is studied in the framework of the kinetic theory of laser plasma based on the construction of propagators (in classical limit) for electron and ion distribution functions in plasma. The calculations are performed for real densities and charges of plasma ions. Electrons are partly ejected from the target. The laser pulse energy is predominantly absorbed by electrons, and the electrons are accelerated to relatively high energies.