Intense laser pulse propagation in capillary discharge plasma channels

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.58909· OSTI ID:687944

Hubbard, R F; Moore, C I; Sprangle, P; Ting, A ^[1]; Ehrlich, Y; Kaganovich, D; Cohen, C; Zigler, A ^[2]

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1. Beam Physics Branch, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia 20375 (United States)
2. Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, (Israel) 91904

Optical guiding of intense laser pulses is required for plasma-based accelerator concepts such as the laser wakefield accelerator. Reported experiments have successfully transported intense laser pulses in the hollow plasma column produced by a capillary discharge. The hollow plasma has an index of refraction which peaks on-axis, thus providing optical guiding which overcomes beam expansion due to diffraction. In more recent experiments at Hebrew University, 800 nm wavelength, 0.1 mJ, 100 fs pulses have been guided in {approximately}300 micron radius capillaries over distances as long as 6.6 cm. Simulations of these experiments using a 2-D nonlinear laser propagation model produce the expected optical guiding, with the laser pulse radius r{sub L} exhibiting oscillations about the equilibrium value predicted by an analytical envelope equation model. The oscillations are damped at the front of the pulse and grow in amplitude in the back of the pulse. This growth and damping is attributed to finite pulse length effects. Simulations also show that further ionization of the discharge plasma by the laser pulse may hollow the laser pulse and introduce modulations in the spot size. This ionization-defocusing effect is expected to be significant at the high intensities required for accelerator application. Capillary discharge experiments at much higher intensities are in progress on the Naval Research Laboratory T{sup 3} laser, and preliminary results are reported. {copyright} {ital 1999 American Institute of Physics.}

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 687944
• Report Number(s): CONF-980742--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 472; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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