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Relativistic self-distortion of a laser pulse and ponderomotive acceleration of electrons in an axially inhomogeneous plasma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2010

Rohtash Singh ,
A.K. Sharma  and
V.K. Tripathi
Rohtash Singh*
Affiliation:
Center for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
A.K. Sharma
Affiliation:
Center for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
V.K. Tripathi
Affiliation:
Physics Department, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Rohtash Singh, Center for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi-110016, India. E-mail: sahabrao@gmail.com
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Abstract

Relativistic self distortion of a Gaussian laser pulse in inhomogeneous plasma in one dimension is investigated. The relativistic mass effect causes different portions of the pulse to travel with different group velocities leading to the steepening of the pulse front and broadening of the rear. This asymmetry created in the pulse shape gives rise to stronger ponderomotive force on electrons at the front and weaker at the rear. The fast moving electrons under this force are shown to have very significant net energy gain. The energy gain increases with the density scale-length and then saturates.

Keywords

Density scale lengthInhomogeneous plasmaPlasma channelsPonderomotive accelerationRefractive indexTemporal evolution
Type
Research Article
Information
Laser and Particle Beams , Volume 28 , Issue 2 , June 2010 , pp. 299 - 305
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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