Enhanced thermal self-focusing of a Gaussian laser beam in a collisionless plasma

Journal Article · Thu Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2011 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3662098· OSTI ID:22047149

Gupta, Devki Nandan ^[1]; Suk, Hyyong ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007 (India)
2. Advanced Photonics Research Institute (APRI) and Graduate Program of Photonics and Applied Physics, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500 712 (Korea, Republic of)

Theory given by Wang-Zhou [Phys. Plasmas 18, 043101 (2011)] for the thermal self-focusing of a Gaussian laser beam in a collisionless plasma is revisited by including the effect of a localized upward plasma-density ramp. As the equilibrium electron density is an increasing function of the distance of propagation of the laser beam, the diffraction length decreases rapidly as the beam penetrates deeper into the plasma and the diffraction effect becomes reduced; thus, the laser becomes more focused. A significant enhancement in laser thermal self-focusing in a collisionless plasma is consequently observed if a localized plasma density ramp is introduced.

• OSTI ID: 22047149
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 18, Issue 12; Other Information: (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
CHARGED-PARTICLE TRANSPORT
COLLISIONLESS PLASMA
DIFFRACTION
ELECTRON DENSITY
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
PLASMA DENSITY