Localized wake-field excitation and relativistic wave-breaking
- Institut fuer Theoretische Physik, Heinrich-Heine-Universitaet Duesseldorf, D-40225 Duesseldorf (Germany)
The localized wake-field behavior behind a short laser pulse is analyzed numerically as well as analytically in one space dimension. A laser pulse propagating in an underdense plasma oscillates in amplitude and width. Within a certain parameter regime, the variations may be near the threshold for wake-field generation. During the times when the width becomes small enough, localized electrostatic wave-packets are generated. The latter may have amplitudes in the relativistic regime. The breaking of the wake-field wave packets is investigated. Known criteria for wave-breaking are generalized to the relativistic and inhomogeneous cases. It is found that relativistic, inhomogeneous packets break without threshold; however, not, in general, on the first oscillation. The time for wave-breaking can be estimated. The numerical findings are proven analytically by making use of a Lagrangian coordinate formulation.
- OSTI ID:
- 21062040
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 14; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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