Work

The evolution of ultra-intense, short-pulse lasers in underdense plasmas

Year: 1996

Type: article

Abstract: The propagation of short-pulse lasers through underdense plasmas at ultra-high intensities (I≥1019 W/cm) is examined. The pulse evolution is found to be significantly different than it is for moderate intensities. The pulse breakup is dominated by leading edge erosion and plasma wave wake formation rather than from Raman forward scattering type instabilities. A differential equation which describes local pump depletion is derived and used to analyze the formation and evolution of the erosion. Pulse erosion is demonstrated with one dimensional particle in cell (PIC) simulations. In addition, two dimensional simulations are presented which show pulse erosion along with other effects such as channeling and diffraction. Possible applications for plasma based accelerators and light sources are discussed.

Source: Physics of Plasmas

DOI: 10.1063/1.872001

Authors: C. D. Decker, W. B. Mori, K.-C. Tzeng, T. Katsouleas

Institutions: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California

Language: English

Topic: Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics

Subfield: Nuclear and High Energy Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funder: U.S. Department of Energy

Award: NEW GRANT - EXPERIMENTAL, THEORETICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL STUDIES OF PLASMA - CONCEPTS FOR FUTURE HIGH ENERGY ACCELERATORS P.I. - JOSHI