Experimental study of relativistic self-focusing and self-channeling of an intense laser pulse in an underdense plasma
- Univ. of Jena (Germany)
- CEA CE Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette (France)
This paper reports on experimental investigations on relativistic self-focusing and self-channeling of a terawatt laser pulse (0.7 TW {le} P {le} 15 TW) in an underdense plasma. The authors present results obtained with picosecond ({tau} = 1 ps) and subpicosecond ({tau} = 0.4 ps) pulses. In the ``long pulse`` regime, modifications in the laser propagation are observed for P < P{sub c}, the critical power for self-focusing. By contrast, self-guiding of subpicosecond pulses is observed for P {approx} P{sub c}. Using a paraxial envelope model describing the laser propagation and taking into account the plasma response to the ponderomotive force, it is shown that a maximum laser intensity of 5--15 times that reached in vacuum may be achieved when P is in the (1.25--4) {times} P{sub c} range. It is also demonstrated that ion motion may significantly reduce the effective P{sub c}.
- OSTI ID:
- 264370
- Journal Information:
- IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Vol. 24, Issue 2; Other Information: PBD: Apr 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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