Abstract

Propagation into a homogeneous plasma of a laser beam at irradiances higher than 1/500 of the relativistic threshold can result in self-focusing due to the highly sensitive relativistic dependence of the optical constants on laser irradiance. Electron densities slightly less than the relativistic-cutoff densities are required. Simultaneously with the self-focusing, it is also possible to achieve a dielectric increase (swelling) of laser energy density in the plasma that could reach 1/3 of its maximum value. In prepulsed plasmas, generated by Nd-glass-laser pulses of 3 × 10¹⁶ W/cm², relativistic diffraction-limited self-focusing can generate relativistic electron-oscillation energies and hence pair production.

© 1975 Optical Society of America

Plasma density ramp for relativistic self-focusing of an intense laser

Devki N. Gupta, Min S. Hur, Ilmoon Hwang, Hyyong Suk, and Ashok K. Sharma
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 24(5) 1155-1159 (2007)

Plasma density ramp for relativistic self-focusing of an intense laser: comment

Rasoul Sadighi-Bonabi, Elnaz Yazdani, Mahdi Habibi, and Erik Lotfi
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 27(9) 1731-1734 (2010)

Thermal self-focusing of TEM₀₁ laser beams and ring-shape self-focusing of two specific mixtures of modes*

M. S. Sodha and V. P. Nayyar
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 65(9) 1027-1030 (1975)

Dispersion relations and complex reflectivity*

G. H. Goedecke
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 65(2) 146-149 (1975)

Self-focusing of an elliptic-Gaussian laser beam in relativistic ponderomotive plasma using a ramp density profile

Harish Kumar, Munish Aggarwal, Richa, and Tarsem Singh Gill
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 35(7) 1635-1641 (2018)