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Title: Instabilities and generation of a quasistationary magnetic field by the interaction of relativistically intense electromagnetic wave with a plasma

Journal Article · · Physics of Plasmas
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3466848· OSTI ID:21432200
;  [1];  [1];  [1]
  1. Department of Physics, Government College University, Lahore 54000 (Pakistan)

It is shown that the interaction of the superstrong laser radiation with an isotropic plasma leads to the generation of low frequency electromagnetic (EM) waves and in particular a quasistationary magnetic field. When the relativistic circularly polarized transverse EM wave propagates along z-axis, it creates a ponderomotive force, which affects the motion of particles along the direction of its propagation. On the other hand, motion of the particles across the direction of propagation is defined by the ponderomotive potential. The dispersion relation for the transverse EM wave using a special distribution function, which has an anisotropic form, is derived. The dispersion relation is subsequently investigated for a number of special cases. In general, it is shown that the growth rate of the EM wave strongly depends upon its intensity.

OSTI ID:
21432200
Journal Information:
Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 17, Issue 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3466848; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English