Asymmetric self-focusing of a laser pulse in plasma

2002/07/01 by A. Upadhyay, A. UPADHYAY, V. K. Tripathi +5
Physics and Astronomy · #Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications #Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics #Advanced Fiber Laser Technologies

paper · doi:10.1017/s0022377802001794

Abstract

An intense short-pulse laser propagating through a plasma undergoes self-pulse distortion due to the combined effects of nonlinearity-induced self-focusing and dispersion. The nonlinearity arises as a result of relativistic mass variation. The low-intensity front of the pulse converges mildly, while the high-intensity later portions self-focus strongly. However, at the intensity maxima, the self-focusing effect is masked by the saturation effect of the nonlinear refractive index. The group velocity is also a function of intensity; as a result, the front of the pulse becomes sharpened, while the tail tends to be broadened.

Related

• A numerical study of self-focusing and guiding of laser pulse of duration shorter than plasma wavelength
• Self-focused pulse propagation is mediated by spatiotemporal optical vortices
• Self-focusing and plasma channels formation for non-axisymmetric optical schemes under different orientation of laser pulse linear polarization
• Complete temporal characterisation of asymmetric pulse compression in a laser wakefield
• Investigation of self-focusing of Gaussian laser beams within magnetized plasma via source-dependent expansion method