Microwave Propagation via Laser Plasma Channels

Nonlinear theory of nonparaxial laser pulse propagation in plasma channels

Nonparaxial propagation of ultrashort, high-power laser pulses in plasma channels is examined. In the adiabatic limit, pulse energy conservation, nonlinear group velocity, damped betatron oscillations, self-steepening, self-phase modulation, and shock formation are analyzed. In the nonadiabatic limit, the coupling of forward Raman scattering (FRS) and the self-modulation instability (SMI) is an...

High Power Nonlinear Propagation of Laser Pulses in Tenuous Gases and Plasma Channels

Title of Dissertation: HIGH POWER NONLINEAR PROPAGATION OF LASER PULSES IN TENUOUS GASES AND PLASMA CHANNELS Jianzhou Wu, Doctor of Philosophy, 2005 Dissertation Directed By: Professor Thomas M. Antonsen, Jr. Department of Physics The nonlinear propagation over long distances of moderate intensity laser pulses in tenuous gases is studied. The dynamics of these pulses will be affected by nonline...

Stable laser-pulse propagation in plasma channels for GeV electron acceleration

To achieve multi-GeV electron energies in the laser wakefield accelerator (LWFA) it is necessary to propagate an intense laser pulse long distances in plasma without disruption. A 3D envelope equation for a laser pulse in a tapered plasma channel is derived, which includes wakefields and relativistic and nonparaxial effects, such as finite pulse length and group velocity dispersion. It is shown...

Coupling of laser energy into plasma channels

Diffractive spreading of a laser pulse imposes severe limitations on the acceleration length and maximum electron energy in the laser wake field accelerator LWFA . Optical guiding of a laser pulse via plasma channels can extend the laser-plasma interaction distance over many Rayleigh lengths. Energy efficient coupling of laser pulses into and through plasma channels is very important for optima...

Laser-electron Compton Interaction in Plasma Channels