Propagation of ultrashort laser pulses in optically ionized gases

Journal Article · Mon Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3294559· OSTI ID:21347131

Morozov, A; Luo, Y; Suckewer, S ^[1]; Gordon, D F; Sprangle, P ^[2]

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1. Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 (United States)
2. Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375 (United States)

Propagation of 800 nm, 120 fs laser pulses with intensities of 4x10{sup 16} W/cm{sup 2} in supersonic gas jets of N{sub 2} and H{sub 2} is studied using a shear-type interferometer. The plasma density distribution resulting from photoionization is resolved in space and time with simultaneously measured initial neutral density distribution. A distinct difference in laser beam propagation distance is observed when comparing propagation in jets of H{sub 2} and N{sub 2}. This is interpreted in terms of ionization induced refraction, which is stronger when electrons are produced from states of higher ionization potential. Three dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, based on directly solving the Maxwell-Lorentz system of equations, show the roles played by the forward Raman and ionization scattering instabilities, which further affect the propagation distance.

• OSTI ID: 21347131
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 17, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3294559; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
DISTRIBUTION
HYDROGEN
INTERFEROMETRY
IONIZATION POTENTIAL
IONIZED GASES
LASER RADIATION
LIGHT TRANSMISSION
NITROGEN
PHOTOIONIZATION
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA JETS
SUPERSONIC FLOW
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ELEMENTS
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
GASES
IONIZATION
NONMETALS
RADIATIONS
TRANSMISSION