Self-focusing of Hermite–Gaussian laser beams in plasma under plasma density ramp

Self-focusing of Hermite–Gaussian laser beams in plasma under plasma density ramp has been investigated. It is known that a laser beam shows an oscillatory self-focusing and defocusing behavior with the propagation distance. To overcome the defocusing, localized upward plasma density ramp is introduced, so that the laser beam attains a minimum spot size and maintains it with only a mild ripple. The density ramp could be important for the self-focusing of a Hermite–Gaussian laser by choosing the laser and plasma parameters appropriately. Self-focusing becomes stronger as the propagation distance increases. The behavior of beam-width parameters with the distance of propagation is presented graphically.     

Propagation of cosh Gaussian laser beam in plasma with density ripple in relativistic – ponderomotive regime

Self-focusing of cosh Gaussian laser beam in plasma with periodic density ripple has been investigated. The pondermotive force on electron and the relativistic oscillation of the electron mass causes periodic self-focusing/defocusing of the cosh Gaussian laser beam. The beam converges in the region of high plasma density due to dominance of self-focusing effect over diffraction effect and diverges in the low density region. Non-linear partial differential equation governing the evolution of complex envelope in slowly varying approximation is solved using paraxial ray approximation. The variation of beam-width parameter is studied with distance of propagation for different values of ripple wave number d and decentred parameter b. In order to get strong self-focusing, wavelength and intensity parameters of cosh Gaussian laser beam are optimized.     

Self-focusing and defocusing of cosh Gaussian laser beam in the presence of nonlinearity of ponderomotive force and temperature gradient

In this paper, the propagation of Cosh Gaussian laser beam and its interaction with isothermal plasma without temperature gradient as well as the effect of the exponential electron temperature gradient are investigated. Here the ponderomotive nonlinearity force is effective mechanism. This force can modify the electron density distribution. All the investigations are carried out for different initial plasma temperatures. Using Maxwell’s equations we obtained the nonlinear second-order differential equation of the dimensionless beam-width parameter (f) on the distance of propagation for several initial electron temperatures and exponential temperature variations. These equations are solved numerically by taking WKB and paraxial approximation. Under the effect of initial electron temperature, self-focusing and defocusing of hyperbolic cosine (cosh) Gaussian laser beam is distinguished. Furthermore, the exponential temperature gradient cause to stationary propagation mode breaks, and self-focusing or defocusing properties is observable.     

Nonlinear Interaction of Elliptical Laser Beam with Collisional Plasma:Effect of Linear Absorption

In the present work,nonlinear interaction of elliptical laser beam with collisional plasma is studied by using paraxial ray approximation.Nonlinear differential equations for the beam width parameters of semi-major axis and semi-minor axis of elliptical laser beam have been set up and solved numerically to study the variation of beam width parameters with normalized distance of propagation.Effects of variation in absorption coefficient and plasma density on the beam width parameters are also analyzed.It is observed from the analysis that extent of self-focusing of beam increases with increase/decrease in plasma density/absorption coefficient.     

Density Transition Based Self-Focusing of cosh-Gaussian Laser Beam in Plasma with Linear Absorption

Density transition based self-focusing of cosh-Gaussian laser beam in plasma with linear absorption has been studied. The field distribution in the plasma is expressed in terms of beam width parameter, decentered parameter, and linear absorption coefficient. The differential equation for the beam width parameter is solved by following Wentzel—Kramers—Brillouin (WKB) and paraxial approximation through parabolic wave equation approach. The behaviour of beam width parameter with dimensionless distance of propagation is studied at optimum values of plasma density, decentered parameter and with different absorption levels in the medium. The results reveal that these parameters can affect the self-focusing significantly.     

Effect of rippled laser beam on excitation of ion acoustic wave

Growth of a radially symmetrical ripple, superimposed on a Gaussian laser beam in collisional unmagnetised plasma is investigated. From numerical computation, it is observed that self-focusing of main beam as well as ripple determine the growth dynamics of ripple with the distance of propagation. The effect of growing ripple on excitation of ion acoustic wave (IAW) has also been studied.     

超短强激光脉冲在等离子体隧道中传输的理论与数值模拟研究

研究了超短强激光脉冲在非扰动抛物型部分电离的预等离子体隧道中的传输特性.从Maxwell方程出发得到了两个包含衍射、三阶强度非线性、等离子体散焦、等离子体隧道聚焦以及相对论自聚焦等效应在内的激光场演化方程，即折射率方程和哈密顿-雅可比方程.在此基础 上得到了激光在等离子体隧道中传输的包络方程以及光斑半径与传输距离、隧道宽度等初始 参量的关系. 关键词： 等离子体隧道聚焦 相对论自聚焦 势阱     

Comparison of two theories during self-focusing of Gaussian laser beam in thermal conduction-loss predominant plasmas

In the present paper, self-focusing phenomenon occurring as a result of non-linear interaction of intense laser beam with thermal conduction-loss predominant plasmas is studied by following both approaches viz. paraxial theory approach and moment theory approach. Non-linear differential equations for the beam width parameters of laser beam have been set up and solved numerically in both cases to study the variation of beam width parameters with normalized distance of propagation. Effects of laser intensity as well as plasma density on the beam width parameters have also been analyzed. It is observed from the analysis that in case of moment theory approach, strong self-focusing of laser beam is observed as compared to paraxial theory approach.     

Steady-state self-focusing of Gaussian electromagnetic beams in an inhomogeneous nonlinear medium: Effect of absorption and initial curvature of the beam

The authors have investigated the effect of linear absorption and initial curvature of an electromagnetic Gaussian beam on focusing/defocusing in an inhomogeneous nonlinear medium. Numerical computations have been made for linear inhomogeneity and saturating nonlinearity, characteristic of dielectrics and collisional plasmas. The maximum and minimum of the beam width keep decreasing with increase in distance of propagation (or absorption), till the beam becomes very weak and diverges steeply; penetration in an overdense medium also decreases with increasing absorption. Converging beams initially converge and then go in: (i) the oscillatory divergence (ii) self-focusing or (iii) steady divergence mode, depending upon the initial values of beam width and axial irradiance. The maximum penetration in an overdense medium has the highest values for −0.7<(df/dξ)_ξ=0<0.4 and falls sharply, outside these limits.     

无线电窄波束在低电离层中的聚焦和散焦

 推导了无线电窄波束在电离层中传输的非线性几何光学方程,分析了无线电窄波束在低电离层中传输的聚焦和散焦原理,推导出了散焦参数和聚焦参数的计算公式,研究了无线电窄波束在低电离层中传输的散焦现象,讨论了电波频率和功率对发散波束宽度的影响。计算结果表明：低电离层主要表现为一种散焦介质,使电波波束发散,当电波频率较低并且功率较大时,波束散焦现象非常明显,使到达目标点的功率密度大幅度降低,而当频率达到数GHz时,波束散焦现象很微弱。     

Distribution regimes of intense laser beam in a self-consistent plasma channel

In the present work, we investigate the distributed regimes of an intense laser beam in a self-consistent plasma channel. As the intensity of the laser beam increases, the relativistic mass effect as well as the ponderomotive expulsion of electrons modifies the dielectric function of the medium due to which the medium exhibits nonlinearity. Based on Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin and paraxial ray theory, the steady-state solution of an intense, Gaussian electromagnetic beam is studied. A differential equation of the beamwidth parameter with the distance of propagation is derived, including the effects of relativistic self-focusing (SF) and ponderomotive self-channeling. The nature of propagation and radial dynamics of the beam in plasma depend on the power, width of the beam, and Ω _p, the ratio of plasma to wave frequency. For a given value of Ω _p (<1), the distribution regimes have been obtained in beampower–beamwidth plane, characterizing the regimes of propagation as steady divergence, oscillatory divergence, and SF. The related focusing parameters are optimized introducing plasma density ramp function, and spot size of the laser beam is analyzed for inhomogeneous plasma. This results in overcoming the diffraction and guiding the laser beam over long distance. Numerical computations are performed for typical parameters of relativistic laser–plasma interaction studies.     

Coupling surface plasmon waves across gaps in a dielectric/metal interface by transformation optics

Propagation of a Gaussian laser beam in a plasma is analyzed by including the nonlinearity associated with the relativistic mass and the ponderomotive force. We set up the nonlinear differential equation for beam width parameter using parabolic equation approach and solve it numerically. Our results show that the ponderomotive self-focusing contributes in the relativistic self-focusing of the laser beam. An impact of plasma electron temperature, relative density parameter, and intensity parameter on the propagation of the laser beam has been explored.     

Experimental tests of the new paradigm for laser filamentation in gases

Since their discovery in the mid-1990s, ultrafast laser filaments in gases have been described as products of a dynamic balance between Kerr self-focusing and defocusing by free electric charges that are generated via multiphoton ionization on the beam axis. This established paradigm has been recently challenged by a suggestion that the Kerr effect saturates and even changes sign at high intensity of light and that this sign reversal, not free-charge defocusing, is the dominant mechanism responsible for the extended propagation of laser filaments. We report qualitative tests of the new theory based on electrical and optical measurements of plasma density in femtosecond laser filaments. Our results consistently support the established paradigm.     

Off-axial contribution of beam self-focusing in plasma with density ripple

Off-axial contribution of beam self-focusing in plasma with density ripple is investigated. Apply paraxial ray theory and Wentzel–Krammers–Brillouin approximation, the results shown that, in interaction of laser and plasma with density ripple, beam self-focusing presents some interesting diverse features when off-axial contribution is obvious. In the paper, we find, on the one hand, density ripple can minimize the defocusing and beam still retains a localized profile with an oscillatory self-focusing and defocusing, on the other hand, with the increase of off-axial contribution, laser beams presents four various self-focusing features, which laser beam intensity profile splits into three-splitted with central axial convex profile, three-splitted with equal amplitude profile, three-splitted with central axial concave profile and two-splitted intensity profile.     

Relativistic nonlinearity and wave-guide propagation of rippled laser beam in plasma

In the present paper we have investigated the self-focusing behaviour of radially symmetrical rippled Gaussian laser beam propagating in a plasma. Considering the nonlinearity to arise from relativistic phenomena and following the approach of Akhmanov et al, which is based on the WKB and paraxial-ray approximation, the self-focusing behaviour has been investigated in some detail. The effect of the position and width of the ripple on the self-focusing of laser beam has been studied for arbitrary large magnitude of nonlinearity. Results indicate that the medium behaves as an oscillatory wave-guide. The self-focusing is found to depend on the position parameter of ripple as well as on the beam width. Values of critical power has been calculated for different values of the position parameter of ripple. Effects of axially and radially inhomogeneous plasma on self-focusing behaviour have been investigated and presented here.     

Kerr非线性介质中聚焦像散高斯光束的传输特性

当高功率激光通过Kerr非线性介质传输时,Kerr效应会严重影响激光的传输特性.实际应用中常遇到像散光束.迄今为止,像散光束传输特性的研究大都局限于在线性介质中的传输,而在非线性介质中传输的研究较少,且还未涉及像散激光束通过含光学系统的Kerr非线性介质传输变换的研究.本文主要研究Kerr效应对聚焦光束像散特性和焦移特性的影响,以及聚焦像散高斯光束的自聚焦焦距和光束焦点调控.在光束扩展情况下,推导出了聚焦像散高斯光束在Kerr非线性介质中传输的束宽、束腰位置和焦移的解析公式,研究表明:在自聚焦介质中,随着自聚焦作用增强(如光束功率增强),光束像散越强,但焦移越小;在自散焦介质中,随着自散焦作用增强(如光束功率增强),光束像散越弱,但焦移越大.另一方面,在光束自聚焦情况下,推导出了自聚焦焦距的解析公式,研究表明利用光束像散可以调控光束焦点个数.     

Relativistic self-focusing and self-channeling of Gaussian laser beam in plasma

In the present paper, we have studied the self-focusing of a laser beam in a relativistic plasma. We have set up the non-linear differential equation for the beam width parameter of the main beam by using the moment theory approach and solved it numerically by the Runge–Kutta method. The results obtained are in agreement with the findings of the simulation (3D PIC). A new stable form of self-channeling propagation has also been observed.     

线性聚焦和线性散焦效应对空间光孤子间相互作用的影响

考虑非均匀一维自聚焦介质的横向不均匀性,利用非线性薛定谔方程满足的守恒律给出了相邻空间孤子间隔的解析式,并对空间孤子之间的相互作用进行了数值模拟.结果表明,线形聚焦效应增强了空间孤子之间的相互作用;而线形散焦效应减弱了空间孤子之间的相互作用.当不考虑介质横向不均匀时,空间孤子之间发生周期性的碰撞.线性散焦效应使相邻空间孤子之间的间隔随传输距离发生周期性的变化,但孤子之间并不发生碰撞.线性聚焦效应使相邻空间孤子随传输距离发生周期性的碰撞,线性聚焦效应具有压制损耗使相邻空间孤子间隔变大的作用.