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Radially polarized intense terahertz (THz) radiation behind a thin foil irradiated by ultrahigh-contrast ultrashort relativistic laser pulse is recorded by a single-shot THz time-domain spectroscopy system. As the thickness of the target is reduced from 30 to 2 \textmu{}m, the duration of the THz emission increases from 5 to over 20 ps and the radiation energy increases dramatically, reaching $\ensuremath{\sim}10.5\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{mJ}$ per pulse, corresponding to a laser-to-THz radiation energy conversion efficiency of $1.7%$. The efficient THz emission can be attributed to reflection (deceleration and acceleration) of the laser-driven hot electrons by the target-rear sheath electric field. The experimental results are consistent with that of a simple model as well as particle-in-cell simulation.

We present a detailed analysis of the modulational instability (MI) of ground-state bright solitary solutions of two incoherently coupled nonlinear Schr\"odinger equations. Varying the relative strength of cross-phase and self-phase effects we show existence and origin of four branches of MI of the two-wave solitary solutions. We give a physical interpretation of our results in terms of the group velocity dispersion (GVD) induced polarization dynamics of spatial solitary waves. In particular, we show that in media with normal GVD spatial symmetry breaking changes to polarization symmetry breaking when the relative strength of the cross-phase modulation exceeds a certain threshold value. The analytical and numerical stability analyses are fully supported by an extensive series of numerical simulations of the full model., Comment: Physical Review E, July, 1999

Accurate evaluation of damping in laterally oscillating microstructures is challenging due to the complex flow behavior. In addition, device fabrication techniques and surface properties will have an important effect on the flow characteristics. Although kinetic approaches such as the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method and directly solving the Boltzmann equation can address these challenges, they are beyond the reach of current computer technology for large scale simulation. As the continuum Navier-Stokes equations become invalid for nonequilibrium flows, we take advantage of the computationally efficient lattice Boltzmann method to investigate nonequilibrium oscillating flows. We have analyzed the effects of the Stokes number, Knudsen number, and tangential momentum accommodation coefficient for oscillating Couette flow and Stokes' second problem. Our results are in excellent agreement with DSMC data for Knudsen numbers up to Kn=[script O](1) and show good agreement for Knudsen numbers as large as 2.5. In addition to increasing the Stokes number, we demonstrate that increasing the Knudsen number or decreasing the accommodation coefficient can also expedite the breakdown of symmetry for oscillating Couette flow. This results in an earlier transition from quasisteady to unsteady flow. Our paper also highlights the deviation in velocity slip between Stokes' second problem and the confined Couette case.