Two-dimensional effects in a tunnel ionized plasma

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.872438· OSTI ID:526936

Parashar, J; Pandey, H D ^[1]; Tripathi, V K ^[2]

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1. Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi---110 016 (India)
2. Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi---110 016 (India)

An intense short pulse laser of finite spot size propagating through a gas produces plasma via tunnel ionization on a femtosecond time scale. The radial profile of plasma density is strongly peaked on the axis and has a defocusing property. As electron density grows with time, the trailing part of the laser pulse suffers stronger divergence than the leading front, causing severe temporal distortion of the pulse. A self-consistent paraxial ray theory of electron density evolution and defocusing of the laser reveals that a square (in time) laser pulse, after propagating one Rayleigh length, has an order of magnitude difference in the axial intensity at the front and the tail of the pulse. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 526936
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 4; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
ELECTRON DENSITY
GASES
IONIZATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
TUNNELING
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WAVE PROPAGATION