Simulations of Relativistic Laser-Plasma Interactions

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2004 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1843531· OSTI ID:20630461

Nikolic, Lj; Skoric, M M ^[1]; Ishiguro, S ^[2]

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1. Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences, P.O.B. 522, 11001 Belgrade (Serbia and Montenegro)
2. Theory and Computer Simulation Center, National Institute for Fusion Science, 322-6 Oroshi-cho, Toki-shi 509-5292 (Japan)

To investigate the growth of instabilities in an underdense plasma, a number of simulations was carried out using the one-dimensional electromagnetic (EM) relativistic particle-in-cell code. A new type of Raman-like scattering was identified in a subcritical regime, which is overdense for standard SRS. This novel instability is a parametric decay of the relativistic EM wave into a scattered light and an electron-acoustic ({omega} < {omega}p) electrostatic wave. In the linear stage, resonant matchings are well satisfied, while the scattered Stokes wave is always driven near critical. During nonlinear saturation, due to rapid growth and strong localization of the Stokes wave, narrow intense EM soliton-like structures with down-shifted laser light trapped inside are formed; eventually, to be irradiated through the plasma-vacuum interface in the form of intense low-frequency EM bursts. This behavior alters the distribution of laser energy between transmission, scattering losses and generation of energetic electrons.

• OSTI ID: 20630461
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 740, Issue 1; Conference: 22. summer school and international symposium on the physics of ionized gases, Bajina Basta (Serbia and Montenegro), 23-27 Aug 2004; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.1843531; (c) 2004 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DISTRIBUTION
ENERGY LOSSES
INTERFACES
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
LASERS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
ONE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
PLASMA INSTABILITY
PLASMA PRODUCTION
PLASMA SIMULATION
PLASMA WAVES
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
SCATTERING
SOLITONS
TAIL ELECTRONS
TRAPPING
VISIBLE RADIATION