Experimental study of relativistic self-focusing and self-channeling of an intense laser pulse in an underdense plasma

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1996 · IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/27.509998· OSTI ID:264370

Gibbon, P ^[1]; Jakober, F; Monot, P; Auguste, T ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Jena (Germany)
2. CEA CE Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette (France)

This paper reports on experimental investigations on relativistic self-focusing and self-channeling of a terawatt laser pulse (0.7 TW {le} P {le} 15 TW) in an underdense plasma. The authors present results obtained with picosecond ({tau} = 1 ps) and subpicosecond ({tau} = 0.4 ps) pulses. In the ``long pulse`` regime, modifications in the laser propagation are observed for P < P{sub c}, the critical power for self-focusing. By contrast, self-guiding of subpicosecond pulses is observed for P {approx} P{sub c}. Using a paraxial envelope model describing the laser propagation and taking into account the plasma response to the ponderomotive force, it is shown that a maximum laser intensity of 5--15 times that reached in vacuum may be achieved when P is in the (1.25--4) {times} P{sub c} range. It is also demonstrated that ion motion may significantly reduce the effective P{sub c}.

• OSTI ID: 264370
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 24; ISSN ITPSBD; ISSN 0093-3813
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
BEAM OPTICS
BEAT WAVE ACCELERATORS
DESIGN
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FOCUSING
INTERACTIONS
LASER RADIATION
PLASMA
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS