Observation of a Long-Wavelength Hosing Modulation of a High-Intensity Laser Pulse in Underdense Plasma

Authors :: Kaluza, M. C.
Mangles, S. P. D.
Thomas, A. G. R.
Najmudin, Z.
Dangor, A. E.
Murphy, C. D.
Collier, J. L.
Divall, E. J.
Foster, P. S.
Hooker, C. J.
Langley, A. J.
Smith, J.
Krushelnick, K.
Kaluza, M. C.
Mangles, S. P. D.
Thomas, A. G. R.
Najmudin, Z.
Dangor, A. E.
Murphy, C. D.
Collier, J. L.
Divall, E. J.
Foster, P. S.
Hooker, C. J.
Langley, A. J.
Smith, J.
Krushelnick, K.
Publication Year :: 2010
Abstract: We report the first experimental observation of a long-wavelength hosing modulation of a high-intensity laser pulse. Side-view images of the scattered optical radiation at the fundamental wavelength of the laser reveal a transverse oscillation of the laser pulse during its propagation through underdense plasma. The wavelength of the oscillation lambda(hosing) depends on the background plasma density n(e) and scales as lambda(hosing) similar to n(e)(-3/2). Comparisons with an analytical model and two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations reveal that this laser hosing can be induced by a spatiotemporal asymmetry of the intensity distribution in the laser focus which can be caused by a misalignment of the parabolic focusing mirror or of the diffraction gratings in the pulse compressor.

Database :: OAIster
Notes :: Kaluza, M. C. and Mangles, S. P. D. and Thomas, A. G. R. and Najmudin, Z. and Dangor, A. E. and Murphy, C. D. and Collier, J. L. and Divall, E. J. and Foster, P. S. and Hooker, C. J. and Langley, A. J. and Smith, J. and Krushelnick, K. (2010) Observation of a Long-Wavelength Hosing Modulation of a High-Intensity Laser Pulse in Underdense Plasma. Physical review letters, 105 (9). ISSN 0031-9007
Publication Type :: Electronic Resource
Accession number :: edsoai.on1099168539
Document Type :: Electronic Resource

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