• High Power Laser Science and Engineering
  • Vol. 1, Issue 2, 02000074 (2013)
Wei-Min Wang1、†,*, Zheng-Ming Sheng1、2, Yu-Tong Li1, and Jie Zhang1、2
Author Affiliations
  • 1Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, CAS, Beijing 100190, China
  • 2Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (Ministry of Education) and Department of Physics, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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    DOI: 10.1017/hpl.2013.12 Cite this Article Set citation alerts
    Wei-Min Wang, Zheng-Ming Sheng, Yu-Tong Li, Jie Zhang. Upper-limit power for self-guided propagation of intense lasers in underdense plasma[J]. High Power Laser Science and Engineering, 2013, 1(2): 02000074 Copy Citation Text show less

    Abstract

    It is found that there is an upper-limit critical power for self-guided propagation of intense lasers in plasma in addition to the well-known lower-limit critical power set by the relativistic effect. Above this upper-limit critical power, the laser pulse experiences defocusing due to expulsion of local plasma electrons by the transverse ponderomotive force. Associated with the upper-limit power, a lower-limit critical plasma density is also found for a given laser spot size, below which self-focusing does not occur for any laser power. Both the upper-limit power and the lower-limit density are derived theoretically and verified by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The present study provides new guidance for experimental designs, where self-guided propagation of lasers is essential.
    Wei-Min Wang, Zheng-Ming Sheng, Yu-Tong Li, Jie Zhang. Upper-limit power for self-guided propagation of intense lasers in underdense plasma[J]. High Power Laser Science and Engineering, 2013, 1(2): 02000074
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