Prashant Chauhan

Strong terahertz radiation generation by beating of two x-mode spatial triangular lasers in magnetized plasma

Resonant THz radiation generation is proposed by beating of two spatial-triangular laser pulses of different frequencies (ω1, ω2) and wave numbers ( k1, k2) in plasma having external static magnetic field. Laser pulses co-propagating perpendicular to a dc magnetic field exert a nonlinear ponderomotive force on plasma electrons, imparting them an oscillatory velocity with finite transverse and longitudinal components. Oscillatory plasma electrons couple with periodic density ripples n ′ = nq0e iqz to produce a nonlinear current, i.e., responsible for resonantly driving terahertz radiation at (ω = ω1 − ω2, k = k1 − k2 + q). Effects of THz wave frequency, laser beam width, density ripples, and applied magnetic field are studied for the efficient THz radiation generation. The frequency and amplitude of THz radiation were observed to be better tuned by varying dc magnetic field strength and parameters of density ripples (amplitude and periodicity). An efficiency about 0.02 is achieved for laser intensity of 2 × 10 W/cm in a plasma having density ripples about 30%, plasma frequency about 1 THz and magnetic field about 100 kG.

Nonparaxial theory of cross-focusing of two laser beams and its effects on plasma wave excitation and particle acceleration: Relativistic case

Cross-focusing of two propagating ultrahigh power laser beams in homogeneous plasma (laser intensity IL>016W∕cm2) has been studied in the nonparaxial region. By expanding the eikonal and other relevant quantities up to the fourth power of r (radial distance), we observed that the focusing of the laser beams becomes fast in the nonparaxial region. The difference in focusing/defocusing of the axial and off-axial rays leads to the formation of a splitted profile of laser beams in the plasma. A remarkable change is also observed in the amplitude of plasma wave excitation and particle acceleration in the nonparaxial region in comparison to the paraxial region.

Effect of relativistic mutual interaction of two laser beams on the growth of laser ripple in plasma

This paper presents an effect of relativistic mutual interaction of two laser beams of different frequencies on the growth of a laser ripple in laser produced plasmas. The nonlinearity due to relativistic mass variation depends not only on the intensity of one laser but also on the second laser. Therefore, one laser beam affects the dynamics of the second beam and hence a mutual nonlinear interaction (cross-focusing) takes place. The dynamical equations governing the laser intensity of two laser beams and the perturbation present on one laser beam (ripple) have been set up and a numerical solution has been presented for typical laser plasma parameters. It is found that a change in the intensity of the second laser beam can affect the growth of the laser ripple significantly. This study is important in plasma beat wave excitation and collective laser particle accelerators.

Excitation of an upper hybrid wave by a high power laser beam in plasma

In the present investigation, the excitation of an upper hybrid wave (UHW) in a hot collisionless magneto-plasma by a relativistic laser beam propagating perpendicular to the static magnetic field and having its electric vector polarized along the direction of the static magnetic field (ordinary mode) is presented. Due to nonuniform intensity distribution of pump laser, the background electron concentration is modified. The amplitude of the UHW, which depends on the background electron concentration, is thus nonlinearly coupled with the laser beam. The effect of nonlinear coupling between the pump laser and UHW is studied. The effect of the relativistic electron mass nonlinearity and the relativistic self-focusing of the pump laser on the excitation of the UHW have been incorporated. The dynamics of the excitation of the UHW in different power domains of the laser beam is accordingly modified. It has been seen that the effect of changing the strength of the static magnetic field on the nonlinear coupling and the dynamics of the excitation of the UHW is significant. The focusing behavior of the UHW may find its relevance in the heating of plasmas near the upper hybrid resonance.

Effect of ultrarelativistic laser beam filamentation on third harmonic spectrum

This paper investigates the generation of plasma wave and third harmonic generation in a hot collision less plasma by an intense laser beam. On the account of the V→×B→ force, a plasma wave at 2ω0 (here ω0 is the pump laser frequency) is generated. The solution of the pump laser beam has been obtained within the nonparaxial ray approximation. Filamentary structures of the laser beam are observed due to relativistic nonlinearity. By expanding the eikonal and the other relevant quantities up to the fourth power of r it is observed that the focusing of the laser beams become fast in the nonparaxial region. Interaction of the plasma wave with the incident laser beam generates the third harmonics. The mechanism of the plasma wave, third harmonic generation, and the parameters, which govern the third harmonic yield and hence the spectrum of third harmonics, have been studied in detail. Correlation of the third harmonic spectrum with the filamentation has been pointed out. Therefore, the broadening of the third ...

Effect of laser beam filamentation on plasma wave localization and electron heating

This paper presents the ponderomotive filamentation (single hot spot) of a laser beam, propagating in a homogeneous plasma in a non-paraxial region. Electron plasma wave coupling in these filaments has been studied. It is found that an initially launched weak plasma wave (small amplitude) gets excited and becomes highly localized (wave packet) with a broad spectrum. By expanding the eikonal and other relevant quantities up to 4th power of r, it is observed that the focusing of the laser beams becomes fast in the non-paraxial region. The uneven focusing/defocusing of the axial and off-axial rays leads to the formation of a split profile of laser beams in the plasma. The effects of wave-particle interaction are also included in this formalism. The simulation result confirms the presence of chaotic fields, and the interaction of these fields with electrons leads to velocity space diffusion. The stochasticity in the system is also verified by estimating the Lypunov exponent by slightly varying laser beam power. The energy of the accelerated electrons on account of laser beam and plasma wave interaction has been calculated by using a distribution function. For typical laser beam and plasma parameters with wavelength (lambda=1064 nm), power flux (1016 W cm-2) and initial temperature (Te= 2.5 keV ), the elevated electron temperature was found to be 4.5 keV, after passing through one wave packet.

Generation of Plasma Wave at Pump-Wave Frequency and Second Harmonic Generation at Ultrarelativistic Laser Power

In this paper, the influence of ponderomotive and relativistic nonlinearities on the filamentation of an ultraintense laser pulse is investigated in three dimensions within the paraxial ray approximations. Generation of electron plasma wave (EPW) structure at pump-wave frequency and the second harmonic generation in these filamentary structures are reported. The generation of the plasma wave is due to intensity gradient (in the transverse direction of the laser beam in filamentary structure) and density gradient (due to ponderomotive-force effect). For typical laser-plasma parameters: The laser intensity = 2.5 times1020 W/cm2; the particles density = 1.9 times 1019 cm-3; and it is found that the maximum intensity of EPW is in the range of 2.0 times 1013 W/cm2. Interaction of the plasma wave with the incident laser beam leads to second harmonic generation, and the yield comes out to be ap 2.1 times 10-7.

Resonant excitation of the upper hybrid wave by relativistic cross focusing of two laser beams

This article presents the resonant excitation of the upper hybrid wave (UHW) by cross focusing of two high power laser beams in acollisionless hot magnetoplasma; taking into account the relativistic nonlinearity. The electric vectors of the two beams are polarized along uniform static magnetic field and the beams propagate perpendicular to the static magnetic field. The resonant excitation of the UHW occurs when the frequency difference (FD) of the two laser beams and difference of their propagation vector satisfy the dispersion relation corresponding to the UHW. It has been observed that the power associated with the excited UHW, which depends on the background electron concentration, magnetic field and the intensity of the two laser beams, becomes drastically modified with the distance of propagation. The effect of the excited UHW at the FD on the acceleration of electrons has also been discussed. The amplitude of the UHW, excited by two high power laser beams and the electron energy are also calculated. This study is relevant in heating of plasma near the upper hybrid frequency as well as electron acceleration. The results are presented for typical laser plasma parameters.

Dynamics of the excitation of an upper hybrid wave by a rippled laser beam in magnetoplasma

This paper presents the effects of a laser spike (superimposed on an intense laser beam) and a static magnetic field on the excitation of the upper hybrid wave (UHW) in a hot collisionless magnetoplasma, taking into account the relativistic nonlinearity. The laser beam is propagating perpendicular to the static magnetic field and has its electric vector polarized along the direction of the static magnetic field (ordinary mode). Analytical expressions for the growth rate of the ripple, the beam width of the rippled laser beam, and the UHW have been obtained. It is found that the coupling among the main laser beam, ripple, and UHW is strong. The ripple gets focused when the initial power of the laser beam is greater than the critical power for focusing. It has been shown that the presence of a laser spike affects significantly the growth rate and the dynamics of the UHW. In addition, it has been seen that the effect of changing the strength of the static magnetic field on the nonlinear coupling and on the dynamics of the excitation of the UHW is significant. The results are presented for typical laser plasma parameters.

Stimulated compton scattering of surface plasma wave excited over metallic surface by a laser

A high-frequency surface plasma wave (SPW) excited over metallic surface irradiated by a laser beam, can undergo stimulated Compton scattering if phase velocity of daughter plasma wave is equal to the Fermi velocity for metal. The pump SPW