Relativistic Channeling of a Picosecond Laser Pulse in a Near-Critical Preformed Plasma

Journal Article · Sat Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1997 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.879· OSTI ID:450443

Borghesi, M; MacKinnon, A J; Barringer, L; Gaillard, R; Gizzi, L; Meyer, C; Willi, O ^[1]; Pukhov, A; Meyer-ter-Vehn, J ^[2]

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1. Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London (United Kingdom)
2. Max-Planck-Institut fuer Quantenoptik, D-85748 Garching (Germany)

Relativistic self-channeling of a picosecond laser pulse in a preformed plasma near critical density has been observed both experimentally and in 3D particle-in-cell simulations. Optical probing measurements indicate the formation of a single pulsating propagation channel, typically of about 5{mu}m in diameter. The computational results reveal the importance in the channel formation of relativistic electrons traveling with the light pulse and of the corresponding self-generated magnetic field. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 450443
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 78; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
CHANNELING
LASER RADIATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PLASMA
PULSES
SIMULATION
WAVE PROPAGATION