Interaction of ultrahigh laser fields with beams and plasmas

Journal Article · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Physics of Fluids B; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.860192· OSTI ID:7105046

Sprangle, P; Esarey, E ^[1]

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1. Beam Physics Branch, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375-5000 (United States)

The nonlinear interaction of ultraintense laser pulses with electron beams and plasmas is rich in a wide variety of new phenomena. Advances in laser science have made possible compact terawatt lasers capable of generating subpicosecond pulses at ultrahigh powers ({ge}1 TW) and intensities ({ge}10{sup 18} W/cm{sup 2}). These ultrahigh intensities result in highly relativistic nonlinear electron dynamics. This paper briefly addresses a number of phenomena including (i) laser excitation of large-amplitude plasma waves (wake fields), (ii) relativistic optical guiding of laser pulses in plasmas, (iii) optical guiding by preformed plasma channels, (iv) laser frequency amplification by ionization fronts and plasma waves, (v) relativistic harmonic generation, (vi) stimulated backscattering from plasmas and electron beams, (vii) nonlinear Thomson scattering from plasmas and electron beams, and (viii) cooling of electron beams by intense lasers. Potential applications of these effects are also discussed.

• OSTI ID: 7105046
• Journal Information: Physics of Fluids B; (United States), Journal Name: Physics of Fluids B; (United States) Vol. 4:7; ISSN 0899-8221; ISSN PFBPE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700350* -- Plasma Production
Heating
Current Drive
& Interactions-- (1992-)
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
BEAMS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELECTRON BEAMS
FREQUENCY MIXING
HARMONIC GENERATION
INELASTIC SCATTERING
INTERACTIONS
LASER RADIATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LEPTON BEAMS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PARTICLE INTERACTIONS
PHOTON-ELECTRON INTERACTIONS
PHOTON-LEPTON INTERACTIONS
PLASMA
PLASMA WAVES
RADIATIONS
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
SCATTERING
THOMSON SCATTERING