Probing of nonlinear evolution of laser wakefield by Raman scattering of laser light

Journal Article · Mon Sep 15 04:00:00 EDT 2008 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2983150· OSTI ID:21269069

Weimin, Zhou ^[1]; Mima, Kunioki; Nakamura, Tatsufumi; Nagatomo, Hideo ^[2]

---

1. Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 (Japan)
2. Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871 (Japan)

When a weak probe laser pulse is injected into a wakefield excited by a short high-intensity pump laser pulse, the probe pulse will be Raman scattered by the wakefield. It is possible to determine the density profile from the spectrum of this forward Raman scattered probe laser [R. E. Slusher and C. M. Surko, Phys. Fluids 23, 472 (1980)]. In this paper, an analytical solution for the multiple sidebands of the forward Raman scattering of the probe laser pulse is presented. These multiple sidebands are connected with the steepening of density perturbation of the wakefield. More detailed information of the laser wakefield can be obtained from these multiple sidebands. The propagation of the probe pulse in wakefields is studied with one-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. The analytical solution and the results of PIC simulations are consistent with each other and other experiments.

• OSTI ID: 21269069
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 15; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
DISTURBANCES
LASER RADIATION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
OPTICAL PUMPING
RAMAN EFFECT