Reduction of laser self-focusing in plasma by polarization smoothing

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1998 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.872957· OSTI ID:636161

Lefebvre, E ^[1]; Berger, R L; Langdon, A B; MacGowan, B J; Rothenberg, J E; Williams, E A ^[2]

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1. Commissariat a lEnergie Atomique, DRIF/DPTA, BP 12, 91680 Bruyeres-le-Chatel (France)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94550 (United States)

Dramatic reductions in the filamentation of an intense speckled laser beam in a hot, high-density plasma are reported in simulations of polarization smoothing (PS), which consists of irradiating the plasma with two superimposed, orthogonally polarized and uncorrelated speckle patterns. PS instantaneously smooths the spatial beam structure, and thus can be more effective than temporal smoothing techniques. Even greater reduction in filamentation, offering improved prospects for inertial fusion, results from combining these two methods. {copyright} {ital 1998 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 636161
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 7 Vol. 5; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
LASER RADIATION
LASER TARGETS
PLASMA SIMULATION
POLARIZATION