Self-focusing of a high-intensity laser in a collisional plasma under weak relativistic-ponderomotive nonlinearity

Journal Article · Sun Dec 15 00:00:00 EST 2013 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4838195· OSTI ID:22218358

Gupta, D. N. ^[1]; Islam, M. R.; Jaroszynski, D. A. ^[2]; Jang, D. G.; Suk, H. ^[3]

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1. Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007 (India)
2. Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG (United Kingdom)
3. Department of Physics and Photon Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 500-712 (Korea, Republic of)

Self-focusing a laser beam in collisional plasma is investigated under the weak relativistic-ponderomotive nonlinearity. In this case, the plasma equilibrium density is modified and it causes generation of the nonlinearity due to the Ohmic heating of electrons, collisions, and the weak relativistic-ponderomotive force during the interaction of the laser beam with the plasma. Our theoretical and simulation results show that a significant nonlinearity in laser self-focusing can occur under the weak relativistic-ponderomotive regime for some appropriate simulation parameters.

• OSTI ID: 22218358
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 20, Issue 12; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
COLLISIONAL PLASMA
ELECTRON COLLISIONS
JOULE HEATING
LASER RADIATION
LASERS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA SIMULATION
PONDEROMOTIVE FORCE
RELATIVISTIC PLASMA
RELATIVISTIC RANGE