Interaction of intense laser pulses with neutral gases and preformed plasmas

Journal Article · Mon Sep 28 04:00:00 EDT 1998 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.56549· OSTI ID:21202595

Mackinnon, A J; Borghesi, M; Iwase, A; Jones, M W; Willi, O ^[1]

---

1. The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London SW7 2BZ (United Kingdom)

The interaction of a high intensity laser pulse with a neutral gas or preformed plasma has been studied over a wide range of target and laser conditions. It was found that the propagation of 2ps laser pulses ({lambda}=1.054{mu}m, P=5-10TW, I{approx}5x10{sup 14}-1x10{sup 14}-1x10{sup 18} Wcm{sup -2}) in neutral gases with atomic densities greater than 0.001 of critical was strongly influenced by ionisation induced refraction. Preformed density channels were effective in overcoming refraction but the channel length was found to be limited by ionization induced defocusing of the prepulse.

• OSTI ID: 21202595
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 443; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSES
GASES
LASER RADIATION
LASER TARGETS
LASERS
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
PHOTOIONIZATION
PLASMA
PLASMA PRODUCTION
REFRACTION