Ponderomotive force of a uniform electromagnetic wave in a time varying dielectric medium

Journal Article · Mon Dec 14 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Physical Review Letters; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.69.3495· OSTI ID:6933222

Mori, W B ^[1]; Katsouleas, T ^[2]

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1. Electrical Engineering Department, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024-1594 (United States)
2. Electrical Engineering Electrophysics Department, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007 (United States)

A ponderomotive force associated with a [ital uniform] electromagnetic wave propagating in a medium with time varying dielectric properties [e.g., [epsilon]=[epsilon]([ital x][minus][ital v][sub 0][ital t])] is identified. In particular, when a laser ionizes a gas through which it propagates, a force is exerted on the medium at the ionization front that is proportional to ([del][epsilon])[ital E][sup 2] rather than the usual ([epsilon][minus]1)[del][ital E][sup 2]. This force excites a wake in the plasma medium behind the ionization front. The ponderomotive force and wake amplitude are derived and tested with 1D particle-in-cell simulations.

• DOE Contract Number: AS03-83ER40120; FG03-91ER12114
• OSTI ID: 6933222
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters; (United States), Journal Name: Physical Review Letters; (United States) Vol. 69:24; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700350* -- Plasma Production
Heating
Current Drive
& Interactions-- (1992-)
AMPLITUDES
DATA
DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
FLUIDS
GASES
INFORMATION
IONIZATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
NUMERICAL DATA
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PHOTOIONIZATION
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA
PULSES
RADIATIONS
SIMULATION
THEORETICAL DATA
TIME DEPENDENCE
WAVE PROPAGATION