Nonparaxial theory of cross-focusing of two laser beams and its effects on plasma wave excitation and particle acceleration: Relativistic case

Journal Article · Sun Jun 15 00:00:00 EDT 2008 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2928850· OSTI ID:21120457

Sharma, R P; Chauhan, P K ^[1]

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1. Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi 110016 (India)

Cross-focusing of two propagating ultrahigh power laser beams in homogeneous plasma (laser intensity I{sub L}>0{sup 16} W/cm{sup 2}) has been studied in the nonparaxial region. By expanding the eikonal and other relevant quantities up to the fourth power of r (radial distance), we observed that the focusing of the laser beams becomes fast in the nonparaxial region. The difference in focusing/defocusing of the axial and off-axial rays leads to the formation of a splitted profile of laser beams in the plasma. A remarkable change is also observed in the amplitude of plasma wave excitation and particle acceleration in the nonparaxial region in comparison to the paraxial region.

• OSTI ID: 21120457
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 15, Issue 6; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2928850; (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ACCELERATION
AMPLITUDES
BEAMS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
EIKONAL APPROXIMATION
EXCITATION
FOCUSING
HOMOGENEOUS PLASMA
LASERS
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PLASMA WAVES
RELATIVISTIC RANGE