Nonlinear wake-field generation and relativistic focusing of intense laser pulses in plasmas

Journal Article · Fri Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1990 · Physics of Fluids B; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.859561· OSTI ID:6769029

Ting, A; Esarey, E; Sprangle, P ^[1]

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1. Beam Physics Branch, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-5000 (USA)

The generation of nonlinear plasma wake fields by an intense, short laser pulse and the relativistic optical guiding of intense laser pulses in plasmas are studied with a nonlinear, self-consistent model of laser--plasma interactions. Nonlinear steepening and period lengthening of the plasma waves are observed, and expressions are obtained for various nonlinear wake-field quantities. Relativistic focusing with the self-consistent plasma response shows that laser pulse fronts and laser pulses shorter than a plasma wavelength, 2{pi}{ital c}/{omega}{sub {ital p}}, are not relativistically guided and will continuously erode due to diffraction.

• OSTI ID: 6769029
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (USA), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (USA) Vol. 2:6; ISSN 0899-8221; ISSN PFBPE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640410* -- Fluid Physics-- General Fluid Dynamics
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ACCELERATORS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FOCUSING
LASER RADIATION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA
PLASMA SIMULATION
PLASMA WAVES
PULSES
RADIATIONS
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
SIMULATION
WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS
WAVE PROPAGATION