Group velocity of large amplitude electromagnetic waves in a plasma

Journal Article · Mon Jan 24 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.72.490· OSTI ID:5310666

Decker, C D; Mori, W B ^[1]

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1. Departments of Physics and Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024 (United States)

The nonlinear group velocity of a short intense laser pulse propagating in a cold underdense unmagnetized plasma is examined. Analytical expressions for the group velocity are derived. These expressions reduce to the usual [partial derivative][omega]/[partial derivative][ital k] form for small amplitude and are verified for arbitrary amplitude using particle in cell simualations on a cyclic mesh. We find that the leading edge of a pulse moves at the linear group velocity and that the phase velocity of the excited wake is found to be less than the group velocity of the pulse. The techniques used can be applied to other waves in a plasma.

• DOE Contract Number: FG03-92ER40727
• OSTI ID: 5310666
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 72:4; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700350* -- Plasma Production
Heating
Current Drive
& Interactions-- (1992-)
AMPLITUDES
ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
COLD PLASMA
DATA
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY CONSERVATION
EQUATIONS
INFORMATION
LASER RADIATION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
NUMERICAL DATA
PHASE VELOCITY
PLASMA
POYNTING THEOREM
PULSES
RADIATIONS
THEORETICAL DATA
VELOCITY
WAVE PROPAGATION