Influence of strong magnetic fields on laser pulse propagation in underdense plasma

Wilson, T C and Li, F Y and Weikum, M and Sheng, Z M (2017) Influence of strong magnetic fields on laser pulse propagation in underdense plasma. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 59 (6). 065002. ISSN 0741-3335 (https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6587/aa6941)

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Abstract

We examine the interaction between intense laser pulses and strongly magnetised plasmas in the weakly relativistic regime. An expression for the electron Lorentz factor coupling both relativistic and cyclotron motion nonlinearities is derived for static magnetic fields along the laser propagation axis. This is applied to predict modifications to the refractive index, critical density, group velocity dispersion and power threshold for relativistic self-focusing. It is found that electron quiver response is enhanced under right circularly-polarised light, decreasing the power threshold for various instabilities, while a dampening effect occurs under left circularly-polarised light, increasing the power thresholds. Derived theoretical predictions are tested by one and three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.

ORCID iDs

Wilson, T C ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6140-7045, Li, F Y ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8638-8779, Weikum, M ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2324-078X and Sheng, Z M ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8823-9993;
  • Item type:Article
    ID code:60299
    Dates:
    Date
    Event
    20 April 2017
    Published
    27 March 2017
    Published Online
    23 March 2017
    Accepted
    Notes:This is an author-created, un-copyedited version of an article accepted for publication in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from it. The Version of Record is available online at 10.1088/1361-6587/aa6941
    Subjects:Science > Physics
    Department:Faculty of Science > Physics
    Depositing user: Pure Administrator
    Date deposited:24 Mar 2017 16:41
    Last modified:20 Nov 2024 01:13
    Related URLs:
    URI:https://strathprints.strath.ac.uk/id/eprint/60299
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