Temporal characterization of a self-modulated laser wakefield

Journal Article · Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1997 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.53069· OSTI ID:580181

Le Blanc, S. P. ^[1]; Downer, M. C. ^[1]; Wagner, R ^[2]; Chen, S ^[2]; Maksimchuk, A ^[2]; Mourou, G ^[2]; Umstadter, D ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Dept. of Physics
2. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States). Center for Ultrafast Optical Science

The temporal envelope of plasma density oscillations in the wake of an intense (I{approximately}4{times}10{sup 18}W/cm{sup 2}, {lambda}=1{mu}m) laser pulse (400 fs) is measured using forward Thomson scattering from a copropagating, frequency doubled probe pulse. The wakefield oscillations in a fully ionized helium plasma (n{sub e}=3{times}10{sup 19}cm{sup {minus}3}) are observed to reach maximum amplitude ({delta}n{sub e}/n{sub e}{approximately}0.1) 300 fs after the pump pulse. The wakefield growth (4ps{sup {minus}1}) and decay (1.9ps{sup {minus}1}) rates are consistent with the forward Raman scattering instability and beam loading, respectively. (AIP)

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG03-96ER40954
• OSTI ID: 580181
• Report Number(s): CONF-9610281--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 398; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
BEAM MONITORING
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
LASER RADIATION
OSCILLATION MODES
PLASMA DENSITY
PULSE TECHNIQUES
RAMAN EFFECT
STABILITY
WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS