Quasi-matched propagation of ultra-short, intense laser pulses in plasma channels

Journal Article · Tue May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2012 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4707393· OSTI ID:22072345

Benedetti, C; Schroeder, C B; Esarey, E; Leemans, W P ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)

The propagation of an ultrashort and relativistically intense laser pulse in a preformed plasma channel is investigated. The nonlinear paraxial wave equation describing the laser propagation in the plasma is solved both analytically and numerically. For any arbitrary temporal laser pulse profile with a given power (less then the critical power for self-focusing) and any prescribed transverse density profile in the channel, we determine the laser intensity distribution along the pulse ensuring quasi-matched propagation, neglecting non-paraxial effects. For the case of a Gaussian laser with an initially uniform spot throughout the pulse, we determine the optimal channel depth that minimizes laser evolution (e.g., minimizes spot size oscillations). The analytical and semi-analytical results obtained for both cases in the weakly relativistic regime are presented and validated through comparison with numerical simulations.

• OSTI ID: 22072345
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 19; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
LASERS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
OSCILLATIONS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA WAVES
PULSES
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
WAVE EQUATIONS