Electron Parametric Instabilities of Ultraintense Short Laser Pulses Propagating in Plasmas

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

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.2132· OSTI ID:475712

Quesnel, B; Mora, P; Adam, J; Guerin, S; Heron, A; Laval, G ^[1]

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1. Centre de Physique Theorique (UPR 14 du CNRS), Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex (France)

A general dispersion relation is given for electron parametric instabilities of an ultraintense circularly polarized wave propagating in a plasma. It is valid for any plasma density and wave intensity and corresponds to a generalization of the Raman, relativistic modulational, relativistic filamentation, and two-plasmons instabilities. Its numerical resolution shows different zones of instability in the wave vector space. At high intensities, the zones extend and merge, with growth rates equal to a fraction of the wave frequency. At close-to-critical density and high intensity the instability leads to strong harmonic emission. Particle-in-cell simulations confirm the analytical results. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 475712
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 78; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COLD PLASMA
DISPERSION RELATIONS
EMISSION
EQUATIONS OF MOTION
INSTABILITY
LASERS
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
PLASMA DENSITY
POLARIZATION
PULSES
RAMAN EFFECT
SIMULATION
WAVE PROPAGATION