Stimulated Compton scattering from preformed underdense plasmas

Journal Article · Mon Sep 09 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.67.1434· OSTI ID:5242327

Leemans, W P; Clayton, C E; Marsh, K A; Joshi, C ^[1]

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1. Electrical Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, California (USA)

The electron-density fluctuation spectra induced by stimulated Compton scattering (SCS) are directly observed for the first time. A CO{sub 2} laser is focused into plasmas with densities {ital n}{sub {ital e}} spanning (0.4--6){times}10{sup 16} cm{sup {minus}3}. The fluctuations corresponding to backscatter are probed using Thomson scattering. At low {ital n}{sub {ital e}}, the scattered spectrum peaks at a frequency shift {Delta}{omega}={ital kv}{sub {ital e}} and appears to be in a linear convectively saturated regime. At the highest {ital n}{sub {ital e}}, a nonlinear saturation of the SCS instability is observed possibly due to a self-induced perturbation of the electron distribution function.

• DOE Contract Number: AS03-83ER40120
• OSTI ID: 5242327
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Vol. 67:11; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
PLASMA
COMPTON EFFECT
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
CARBON DIOXIDE LASERS
COHERENT SCATTERING
DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
ELECTRON DENSITY
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLUCTUATIONS
FOCUSING
HYDROGEN
INSTABILITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PROBES
SATURATION
STREAK CAMERAS
THOMSON SCATTERING
BASIC INTERACTIONS
CAMERAS
DATA
ELASTIC SCATTERING
ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERACTIONS
ELEMENTS
FUNCTIONS
GAS LASERS
INELASTIC SCATTERING
INFORMATION
INTERACTIONS
LASERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
RADIATION DETECTORS
SCATTERING
VARIATIONS
700102* - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Diagnostics
700107 - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Instabilities