Anomalous Absorption of Very High-Intensity Laser Pulses Propagating through Moderately Dense Plasma

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.4765· OSTI ID:531865

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

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1. Centre de Physique Theorique (UPR14 du CNRS), Ecole Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex (France)

The results of a systematic study of the propagation of very high-intensity laser pulses through slabs of plasma of several tens of microns are presented. One-dimensional and two-dimensional electron parametric instabilities are evidenced. They lead to a rapid longitudinal and transverse heating, and to filamentary structures which progressively merge. The heating results in highly energetic electrons with energy of several tens of MeV. Correlatively, a strong attenuation rate of the electromagnetic wave is observed. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 531865
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 25 Vol. 78; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ABSORPTION
ATTENUATION
ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS
ELECTRON DENSITY
INSTABILITY
LASERS
PLASMA
PLASMA FILAMENT
PLASMA HEATING
PLASMA SIMULATION
PULSES
RAMAN EFFECT
WAVE PROPAGATION