Ion wave response to intense laser beams in underdense plasmas
- Theoretical Physics Institute, Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2J1 (Canada)
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G7 (Canada)
- University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)
Numerical and theoretical studies of laser beam interaction with underdense plasmas involving ion wave instabilities are presented. The theoretical model that is used involves realistic distribution of laser intensity in a focal spot and a non-paraxial electromagnetic wave equation coupled to the ion acoustic wave equation in a two-dimensional geometry. Included among the important results is a weak correlation between backscattered stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) reflectivity and filamentation or self-focusing instabilities. The transmitted light demonstrates angular spreading and frequency shifts consistent with near-forward SBS. The role of filamentation and self-focusing on the transmitted light is also discussed. {copyright} {ital 1997 American Institute of Physics.}
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 553015
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 4, Issue 12; Other Information: PBD: Dec 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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