Effects of relativistic and ponderomotive nonlinearities on the interaction of high-power laser beam with an inhomogeneous warm plasma

The influence of relativistic-ponderomotive nonlinearities and the plasma inhomogeneity on the nonlinear interaction between a high-power laser beam and a warm underdense plasma are studied. It is clear that the relativistic ponderomotive force and the electron temperature modify the electron density distribution and consequently change the dielectric permittivity of the plasma. Therefore, by presenting the modified electron density and the nonlinear dielectric permittivity of the warm plasma, the electromagnetic wave equation for the propagation of intense laser beam through the plasma is derived. This nonlinear equation is numerically solved and the distributions of electromagnetic fields in the plasma, the variations of electron density, and plasma refractive index are investigated for two different background electron density profiles. The results show that the amplitude of the electric field and electron density oscillations gradually increase and decrease, during propagation in the inhomogeneous warm plasma with linear and exponential density profiles, respectively, and the distribution of electron density becomes extremely sharp in the presence of intense laser beam. It is also indicated that the electron temperature and initial electron density have an impact on the propagation of the laser beam in the plasma and change the plasma refractive index and the oscillations' amplitude and frequency. The obtained results indicate the importance of a proper choice of laser and plasma parameters on the electromagnetic field distributions, density steepening, and plasma refractive index variations in the interaction of an intense laser beam with an inhomogeneous warm plasma.     

Mechanisms for the Formation of Electric-Field Pulsation Spectra in the Near-Surface Atmosphere

We present the results of detailed measurements of the spectrum of short-term (f 0.001-1 Hz) pulsations of the electric field of the near-surface atmosphere under the fair-weather and fog conditions. It is shown that the electric-field pulsations at frequencies 10^-2-10^-1 Hz have a power-law spectrum under both fair-weather and fog conditions. The spectral index varies in a range of from -1.23 to -3.36 depending on the experimental conditions, but the most probable values of the index fall in a range of from -2.25 to -3.0. The spectra corresponding to long time intervals of about a few hours are more steep. The relation of the spectral characteristics to the formation of aeroelectric structures (AESs) is studied. The distribution obtained for the structured spectra is bimodal, i.e., it exhibits two maxima in the ranges of spectral indices from -2.75 to -3.0 and from -2.25 to -2.5. The nonstructured-spectrum distribution is asymmetric and has a pronounced maximum corresponding to hard spectra with indices from -2.5 to -3.3. The intensity of the electric-field pulsations under fog conditions increases by about an order of magnitude compared to the case of fair-weather conditions. The mechanisms of spectrum formation of electric-field pulsations and their relations to the pulsation spectra of the electric-charge density with allowance for the neutral-gas turbulence and the presence of AESs are analyzed. We point out the key role of the nonlocal relation between the electric-field intensity and the space-charge density under conditions of spatially inhomogeneous turbulence. Model problems of the spectrum of electric-field fluctuations generated by a homogeneous and structured turbulence in the presence of charge-density fluctuations, considered as a passive tracer, are solved.     

Observations of nonlinear turbulence in the upstream solar wind

Summary Plasma, electric-field and magnetic-field data from several experiments on board the spacecraft ISEE 1 and 2 have been analysed in the interaction region upstream of the Earth's bow shock. Upstream waves which are known to be associated with diffuse distributions of backstreaming protons are shown to correlate also with variability in the distribution of the incoming solar-wind protons. Both phenomena are also clearly connected with the presence of enhanced electric-field turbulence. On the basis of these relations, a preliminary discussion can be given of the complex nonlinear plasma processes occurring in the foreshock region.     

Plasmon modes in 3-layer graphene structures: Inhomogeneity effects

We calculate the plasmon frequency and damping rate in a 3-layer graphene system made of parallel monolayer and bilayer graphene sheets using the random-phase-approximation dielectric function and taking into account the inhomogeneity of the dielectric background of the system. Numerical results show that two out-of-phase acoustic and one in-phase optical plasmon modes can be found from the zeroes of dynamical dielectric function of the structure. Plasmon frequencies and damping rate of plasma oscillations depend significantly on the inhomogeneity of environment, so plasmon curves become more distinctive from each other in single-particle excitation region, compared to the case of homogeneous medium. Finally, Plasmon dispersion patterns depend remarkably on the number (but not order) of bilayer graphene sheet constructing to the system.     

Band gap extension in honeycomb lattice two-dimensional plasma photonic crystals in the presence of dissipation

We investigate two types of honeycomb lattice two-dimensional plasma photonic crystals that possess large photonic band gaps in the presence of dissipation. We obtain a clear insight into the band structures and find imaginary parts of the eigenvalue band structure at the symmetry points display discontinuous behaviour when the filling factor of plasma in type-1 structure is low. Further more, we show how the photonic band gaps are affected by the normalized plasma frequency, radius of cylinder, dielectric constant and collision frequency. Our results demonstrate the band gap extension by increasing normalized plasma frequency in both type structures and radius of plasma cylinders in type-1 structure. The width of band gaps could also be enlarged by decreasing dielectric cylinder's radius. The bands shift toward lower frequencies when relative dielectric constant increases in both two types. These results may provide theoretical instructions to design new optoelectronic devices.     

Temperature and current density distributions at spark plasma sintering of inhomogeneous samples

We analyze the effect of inhomogeneity in the properties of a material on the conditions of obtaining thermoelectrics by spark plasma sintering. Inclusions localized and distributed over the volume of materials with different values of electric and thermal conductivities are considered. It is found that the presence of macroscopic inhomogeneities changes the current density distribution in the cross section of the sample being sintered. It is shown that inhomogeneity in the properties of materials during sintering do not substantially affect the temperature field in the sample at the macroscopic level, but change the current density distribution profile. The ranges of variation of the current density in the regions with inhomogeneous electric and thermal conductivities are determined for various types of macroscopically inhomogeneous inclusions and their distribution. The applicability of various models for describing spark plasma sintering is considered.     

Dielectric tensor elements for the description of waves in rotating inhomogeneous magnetized plasma spheroids

The dielectric permittivity tensor elements of a rotating cold collisionless plasma spheroid in an external magnetic field with toroidal and axial components are obtained. The effects of inhomogeneity in the densities of charged particles and the initial toroidal velocity on the dielectric permittivity tensor and field equations are investigated. The field components in terms of their toroidal components are calculated and it is shown that the toroidal components of the electric and magnetic fields are coupled by two differential equations. The influence of thermal and collisional effects on the dielectric tensor and field equations in the rotating plasma spheroid are also investigated. In the limiting spherical case, the dielectric tensor of a stationary magnetized collisionless cold plasma sphere is presented.     

均匀极化电介质内的球形空腔问题

运用拉普拉斯方程对均匀极化电介质被挖出一个球形空腔的内、外电场强度进行了新的运算，得到了与一些教材不同的结论．同时指出了绝缘材料中的气泡对材料绝垆性能的影响与危害．     

Transport and crystallization of colloidal particles in a thin nematic cell

In a thin planar nematic cell, the application of an AC electric field induces a macroscopic transport of micrometer-sized colloidal particles along the nematic director. We have analyzed the dependence of particle velocities on the electric-field amplitude and frequency and found that it decreases exponentially with increasing frequency. Using specially designed electrodes we have observed that colloidal particles could be pumped and accelerated across the field-no-field interface, and measured the structural force and the corresponding potential, which is of the order of 10000 k_BT for 4μm particles. We demonstrate that spatially periodic close-packed crystalline colloidal structures can be obtained, which are thermodinamically metastable for many days after turning off the electric field and slowly decay into linear chains. Above the nematic-isotropic phase transition, such crystalline structures are non-stable and decay in few minutes.     

介质窗横向电磁场分布下的次级电子倍增效应

本文利用自编P3D3V PIC程序, 数值研究了BJ32矩波导传输TE₁₀模式高功率微波在介质窗内、 外表面引发的次级电子倍增过程, 给出了次级电子3维空间位置分布特征、介质窗表面法向静电场分布规律以及电子数密度分布特性. 模拟结果表明: 对于介质窗内侧, 微波强场区域率先进入次级电子倍增过程; 而对于介质窗外侧, 则是微波弱场区域优先进入次级电子倍增过程. 形成机理可以解释为: 微波坡印廷矢量方向与介质窗外表面法向相同而与内表面法向相反, 内侧漂移运动导致强场区域电子易于被推回表面, 有利于次级电子倍增优先形成; 外侧漂移运动导致强场区域电子易于被推离表面, 不利于次级电子倍增形成. 准3维模型相对1维模型: 介质窗内侧次级电子倍增过程中, 次级电子倍增进入饱和时间长、饱和次级电子数目少、平均电子能量高、 入射微波功率低、沉积功率低; 介质窗外侧次级电子倍增过程中, 次级电子倍增进入饱和时间短、饱和次级电子数目少、平均电子能量低、 入射微波功率低、沉积功率低. 沉积功率与入射微波功率比值与微波模式、强度及介质窗内外侧表面关系不大, 准3维和1维模型计算结果均在1%–2%左右水平. 关键词： 高功率微波 介质表面次级电子倍增 粒子模拟 横向电磁场分布     

高功率微波及材料特性参数对沿面击穿的影响

为研究高功率微波及材料特性参数对介质沿面闪络击穿过程的影响,采用自编的1D3V PIC-MCC程序,通过粒子模拟手段,得到了电子与离子数目、电子及离子密度分布、空间电荷场时空分布、电子平均能量、放电功率、表面沉积功率、激发电离损耗功率、电离频率等重要物理量。结果表明:电离频率随场强增加而增加,达到饱和后缓慢下降,强场诱发的二次电子数目更多导致本底沉积功率增高;电离频率随频率减小而增加,达到饱和后缓慢下降,频率太高会抑制次级电子倍增;因此,低频强场下击穿压力较大;反射引发表面电场下降及磁场增加效应,降低表面场强虽使表面击穿压力下降,但磁场的增加会导致二次电子倍增起振时间缩短,且会增加器件内部击穿风险;圆极化相对线极化诱导二次电子数目更多、本底沉积功率更高,击穿风险增加;短脉冲产生电子、离子总数少,平均能量低,沉积功率低,击穿风险低于长脉冲;脉冲上升时间的缩短和延长,只会提前或推后击穿时间,并不会改善击穿压力;材料二次电子发射率的增加会给击穿造成巨大压力,表面光滑度对击穿过程影响不大;电离频率和电子平均能量随释气压强增加均先增加后减小,低气压二次电子倍增占优,高气压碰撞电离占优。     

Zero permittivity band characteristics in one-dimensional plasma dielectric photonic crystal

We consider the oblique propagation of electromagnetic waves in one-dimensional plasma dielectric photonic crystals, the superlattice structure consisting of alternating plasma and dielectric materials using transfer matrix method. Our results show that photonic band gaps for all polarizations can be obtained in one-dimensional plasma dielectric photonic crystals. These structures can exhibit a new type of band or gap, for the incidence angles other than normal incidence, near frequencies where the electric permittivity of the plasma layer changes sign. This new band or gap arises, from the dispersive properties of the plasma layer, only for TM polarized waves and its width increases with the increasing angle of incidence. This differential behaviour under polarization can be utilized in the design of an efficient polarization splitter. The band characteristic is affected by the plasma width, the plasma density, dielectric width, the dielectric constant of the dielectric medium and angle of incidence.     

硅中钛杂质对激光电场分布影响的数值模拟

采用T-matrix数值方法模拟光学系统常用的光学材料硅中金属钛杂质对激光电场分布的影响。分析了不同球形杂质数目、不同杂质球半径、不同球形杂质间距、不同球形杂质排列以及不同相对介电常数杂质对激光电场分布的影响,通过数值模拟了解到:电场幅值的最大值总是出现在沿入射波极化方向上,电场幅值的增大与相邻两球的耦合有关,且两球间距越小电场幅值的最大值越大;相对介电常数实部越小、虚部越大的杂质会导致较大的电场幅值最大值。     

Neoclassical radial electric field and transport with finite orbits

Neoclassical transport in a toroidal plasma with finite ion orbits is studied, including for the first time the self-consistent radial electric field. Using a low-noise deltaf particle simulation, we demonstrate that a deep electric-field well develops in a region with a steep density gradient, because of the self-collision-driven ion flux. We find that the electric field agrees with the standard neoclassical expression, when the toroidal rotation is zero, even for a steep density gradient. Ion thermal transport is modified by the electric-field well in a way which is consistent with the orbit squeezing effect, but smoothed by the finite orbits.     

Self-Focusing of Quadruple Gaussian Laser Beam in an Inhomogenous Magnetized Plasma with Ponderomotive Non-Linearity: Effect of Linear Absorption

The propagation of quadruple Gaussian laser beam in a plasma characterized by axial inhomogeneity and nonlinearity due to ponderomotive force in the paraxial ray approximation is investigated. An appropriate expression for the nonlinear dielectric constant has been developed in the presence of external magnetic field, with linear absorption and due to saturation effects for arbitrary large intensity. The effects of different types of plasma axial inhomogeneities on self-focusing of laser beam have been studied with the typical laser and plasma parameters. Self-focusing of quadruple Gaussian laser beam in the presence of externally applied magnetic field and saturating parameter is found significantly improved in the case of extraordinary mode. Our results reveal that initially converging beam shows oscillatory convergence whereas initially diverging beam shows oscillatory divergence. The beam is more focussed at lower intensity in both cases viz. extraordinary and ordinary mode.     

Self-Focusing of Quadruple Gaussian Laser Beam in an Inhomogenous Magnetized Plasma with Ponderomotive Non-Linearity:Effect of Linear Absorption

The propagation of quadruple Gaussian laser beam in a plasma characterized by axial inhomogeneity and nonlinearity due to ponderomotive force in the paraxial ray approximation is investigated.An appropriate expression for the nonlinear dielectric constant has been developed in the presence of external magnetic field,with linear absorption and due to saturation effects for arbitrary large intensity.The effects of different types of plasma axial inhomogeneities on self-focusing of laser beam have been studied with the typical laser and plasma parameters.Self-focusing of quadruple Gaussian laser beam in the presence of externally applied magnetic field and saturating parameter is found significantly improved in the case of extraordinary mode.Our results reveal that initially converging beam shows oscillatory convergence whereas initially diverging beam shows oscillatory divergence.The beam is more focussed at lower intensity in both cases viz.extraordinary and ordinary mode.     

Controlled switching of surface waves in 1D photonic crystals by a thin nonlinear cap layer

In this paper, we investigate the electromagnetic surface waves localized at the interface of the homogeneous dielectric medium and a semi-infinite one-dimensional photonic crystal (1D PC), theoretically. The semi-infinite 1D PC is made of alternative layers of left-handed (LH) and right-handed (RH) materials in the presence of a thin nonlinear cap layer. We consider magnetic permeability and electric permittivity of LH layers being dispersive and non-dispersive. We used an analytical direct matching procedure within the Kronig-Penny model to analyze the dispersion behavior of surface waves with controllable localization. It is shown that the thin nonlinear cap layer acts as a tool to change the backward surface waves to forward ones and vice versa and it plays an important role on the localization of them. Also we show that when the LH layers are chosen dispersive, negative dispersion of surface waves are obtained in a wide range of radiation angle and frequency, and we propose an approach to calculate the applied electric field intensity that leads to switching of surface waves from backward to forward and creating a surface mode with maximum localization.     

Coulomb bare interactions in inhomogeneous 4-layer graphene structures

We investigate Coulomb bare interactions in 4-layer graphene systems, taking into account the inhomogeneity of dielectric environment. By solving Poisson equation in momentum space, 16 elements of Coulomb potential tensor have been formed with analytical expressions. The formulae illustrate that Coulomb bare interactions in inhomogeneous 4-layer graphene system differ noticeably from those in homogeneous one. Nevertheless, both intra- and interlayer Coulomb potentials become independent with dielectric constants of contacting media, but they are decided by those of dielectric layer surrounding the system in long wavelength approximation. Besides, numerical results demonstrate that Coulomb bare interactions decrease considerably with the increase in carrier density in graphene sheets as well as their separated distance. In all investigations, the inhomogeneity of dielectric background should not be neglected for improvement in the model.     

A completely iterative method for the infinite domain electrostatic problem with nonlinear dielectric media

We present an iterative method for the solution of the exterior all-space electrostatic problem for nonlinear dielectric media. The electric potential is specified on interior boundaries and the electric field decays at infinity. Our approach uses a natural variational formulation based on the total energy of the nonlinear dielectric medium subject to boundary conditions. The problem is decomposed into an exterior calculation and an interior calculation with the boundary-specified electric potentials imposed as constraints between them. Together, these enable an iterative method that is based on the variational formulation. In contrast to direct solution of the electrostatic problems, we avoid the construction, storage and solution of dense and large linear systems. This provides important advantages for multiphysics problems that couple the linear electrostatic Poisson problem to nonlinear physics: the latter necessarily involves iterative approaches, and our approach replaces a large number of direct solves for the electrostatics with an iterative algorithm that can be coupled to the iterations of the nonlinear problem. We present examples applying the method to inhomogeneous, anisotropic nonlinear dielectrics. A key advantage of our variational formulation is that we require only the free-space, isotropic, homogeneous Greens function for all these settings.     

高强度激光与等离子体相互作用中的受激Raman级联散射、光子凝聚以及大振幅电磁孤立子的产生与加速

应用一维相对论电磁粒子模拟程序，详细研究了线性极化强激光入射到无碰撞稀疏密度长等离子体中引起的受激Raman散射、Raman级联散射、级联散射到光子凝聚、以及大振幅电磁孤立子的产生与加速. 通过研究发现：在适当的激光振幅和等离子体状态下，强的光子凝聚现象会导致大振幅电磁孤立子的产生，电磁孤立子可以以静止、向后以及向前加速的形式存在；在密度均匀的等离子体中，电磁孤立子的加速不仅依赖于激光振幅而且依赖于等离子体的长度；电磁孤立子的电磁频率大约为未扰动电子等离子体振荡频率的二分之一左右，孤立子内电磁场的电场具有半周期结构，相应电磁场的磁场以及静电场则具有一个完整的周期结构. 关键词： 粒子模拟 受激Raman散射 Raman级联散射 光子凝聚 电磁孤立子