Two-Dimensional Regimes of Self-Focusing, Wake Field Generation, and Induced Focusing of a Short Intense Laser Pulse in an Underdense Plasma

Journal Article · Sun Jan 29 23:00:00 EST 1995 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.74.710· OSTI ID:6574867

Bulanov, S V; Pegoraro, F; Pukhov, A M ^[1]

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1. Department of Theoretical Physics, University of Turin and Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare sezione di Torino, Turin (Italy)

The results of a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation and of an analytical description of the propagation in an underdense plasma of a short, relativistically intense, laser pulse are presented. Self-focusing is proven in an ultrarelativistic regime for moderately long pulses. Pulses shorter than the plasma wavelength, but wider than it, excite a wake wave with a regular electric field. The electron density in the wake has a horseshoe'' shape and focuses a long pulse locally. The excitation of stimulated Raman backward scattering is observed.

• OSTI ID: 6574867
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 74:5; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700340 -- Plasma Waves
Oscillations
& Instabilities-- (1992-)
700350* -- Plasma Production
Heating
Current Drive
& Interactions-- (1992-)
COHERENT SCATTERING
DATA
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
FOCUSING
INFORMATION
LASER RADIATION
NONLINEAR OPTICS
NUMERICAL DATA
OPTICS
PLASMA
PULSES
RADIATIONS
RAMAN EFFECT
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
SCATTERING
SIMULATION
THEORETICAL DATA
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
WAVE PROPAGATION