High Power Laser Science and Engineering, 2013, 1 (2): 02000074, Published Online: Nov. 19, 2018
Upper-limit power for self-guided propagation of intense lasers in underdense plasma Download: 741次
Abstract
It is found that there is an upper-limit critical power for self-guided propagation of intense lasers in plasma in addition to the well-known lower-limit critical power set by the relativistic effect. Above this upper-limit critical power, the laser pulse experiences defocusing due to expulsion of local plasma electrons by the transverse ponderomotive force. Associated with the upper-limit power, a lower-limit critical plasma density is also found for a given laser spot size, below which self-focusing does not occur for any laser power. Both the upper-limit power and the lower-limit density are derived theoretically and verified by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The present study provides new guidance for experimental designs, where self-guided propagation of lasers is essential.
Wei-Min Wang, Zheng-Ming Sheng, Yu-Tong Li, Jie Zhang. Upper-limit power for self-guided propagation of intense lasers in underdense plasma[J]. High Power Laser Science and Engineering, 2013, 1(2): 02000074.