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Author(s):
K. Mima, M.S. Jovanovic, Y. Sentoku, Z-M. Sheng, M.M. Skoric and T. Sato
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Title:
Stimulated Photon Cascade and Condensate in Relativistic Laser-plasma Interaction
Date of publication:
Nov. 2000
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Key words:
plasma turbulence, Iaser interactions, relativistic plasmas, fast ignition
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Abstract:
The propagation of a 1inearly polarized relativistic laser pulse in an underdense plasma is studied by fluid-Maxwell and PIC simulations. A nonlinear interplay between backward and forward stimulated Raman scattering instabilities produces a strong spatial modulation of the light pulse and the down-cascade in its frequency spectrum. The Raman cascade saturates by a unique photon condensation at the bottom of the light spectra near the electron plasma frequency, related to strong depletion and possible break-up of the laser beam. In the fina1 stage of the cascade-into-condensate mechanism, depleted downshifted laser pulse is gradually transformed into a train of ultra-short relativistic light solitons.
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