  A new phenomenon of enhancing the relativistic transparency of overdense
plasmas by the influence of hot-electron refluxing has been found via
particle-in-cell simulations. When a p-polarized laser pulse, with intensity
below the self-induced-transparency (SIT) threshold, obliquely irradiates a
thin overdense plasma, the initially opaque plasma would become transparent
after a time interval which linearly relies on the thickness of the plasma.
This phenomenon can be interpreted by the influence of hot-electron refluxing.
As the laser intensity is higher than the SIT threshold, the penetration
velocity of the laser in the plasma is enhanced when the refluxing is
presented. Simulation data with ion motion considered is also consistent with
the assumption that hot-electron refluxing enhances transparency. These results
have potential applications in laser shaping.
