Propagation of an ultrashort, intense laser pulse in a relativistic plasma

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1998 · Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.57.4645· OSTI ID:627805

Ritchie, B; Decker, C D ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Livermore, California94550 (United States)

A Maxwell-relativistic fluid model is developed for the propagation of an ultrashort, intense laser pulse through an underdense plasma. The separability of plasma and optical frequencies ({omega}{sub p} and {omega}, respectively) for small {omega}{sub p}/{omega} is not assumed; thus the validity of multiple-scales theory (MST) can be tested. The theory is valid when {omega}{sub p}/{omega} is of order unity or for cases in which {omega}{sub p}/{omega}{lt}1 but strongly relativistic motion causes higher-order plasma harmonics to be generated which overlap the region of the first-order laser harmonic, such that MST would not be expected to be valid, although its principal validity criterion {omega}{sub p}/{omega}{lt}1 holds. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}

• OSTI ID: 627805
• Journal Information: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Journal Name: Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 57; ISSN PLEEE8; ISSN 1063-651X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
FOCUSING
HARMONICS
LASERS
PLASMA FLUID EQUATIONS
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
WAVE PROPAGATION