No abstract

The effects of laser incidence angle on lateral fast electron transport at front target surface, when a plasma is preformed, irradiated by intense (>10 18 W/cm 2 ) laser pulses, are studied by K α imaging technique and electron spectrometer. A horizontally asymmetric K α halo, resulting from directional lateral electron transport and energy deposition, is observed for a large incidence angle (70°). Moreover, a group of MeV high energy electrons is emitted along target surface. It is believed that the deformed preplasma and the asymmetrical distribution of self-generated magnetic field, at large incidence angle, play an important role in the directional lateral electron transport.