Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Propagation of short intense laser pulses in plasma channels

Conference ·
OSTI ID:20034298
Finite pulse length effects play a major role in the propagation of intense laser beams in a preformed plasma channel. An envelope equation is derived which describes the dynamics of short laser pulses in plasma channels including nonlinear effects. The nonlinear terms arise from relativistic and atomic (bound) electron effects. The laser field is shown to be significantly modified for pulses less than a few tens of wavelengths long. Short laser pulses in plasma channels are found to undergo an envelope oscillation in which the front of the pulse is always damped while the back initially grows. The envelope modulation on the pulse eventually damps due to frequency spread phase mixing. In addition, finite pulse length effects are shown to significantly modify nonlinear focusing processes.
Research Organization:
Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (US)
Sponsoring Organization:
Office of Naval Research; US Department of Energy
OSTI ID:
20034298
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Propagation of finite length laser pulses in plasma channels
Journal Article · Sun Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1999 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics · OSTI ID:321977

Dynamics of Short Laser Pulses Propagating in Plasma Channels
Journal Article · Sun Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1999 · Physical Review Letters · OSTI ID:304269

Nonparaxial propagation of ultrashort laser pulses in plasma channels
Journal Article · Thu Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1998 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics · OSTI ID:295532