Laser Physics at Relativistic Intensities

ISBN-13: 9783642077876 / Angielski / Miękka / 2010 / 220 str.

A. V. Borovsky; A. L. Galkin; O. B. Shiryaev

Opis

One of the major accomplishments of laser technology that took place dur ing the last 15 years is the possibility of generating coherent radiation that 18 can be focused so that its intensity reaches the magnitude of 10 W/ern." Even higher intensities result from nonlinear self-focusing of such radiation in matter. The unique character of these magnitudes is illustrated by the fact that these intensities are substantially higher than those occurring inside the Sun. A range of previously unexplored physical mechanisms come into playas laser pulses interact with matter under the conditions of an extreme concen tration of laser energy. In particular, free electrons of plasma formed by rapid nonlinear ionization of gases and solid targets during the pulse rise time are driven by a laser radiation electric field at velocities comparable to the speed of light, and the corresponding relativistic increase in their masses entails a modification of the plasma's optical properties. Laser radiation intensities at which the above effect occurs are called relativistic. This book is intended to provide an introduction to the field of laser physics at relativistic intensities. Extensive theoretical and experimental studies have been performed in this area in the last decade. At present, laser physics at relativistic intensities can be considered a new and rapidly evolving area of modern physics. Impor tant basic new phenomena and concepts of applications are associated with it, among them relativistic and charge-displacement self-channeling, wake field particle acceleration, generation of free electron harmonics and X-rays, and fast ignition."

Spis treści

1. Introduction.- 2. Fundamentals of Cold Plasma Electrodynamics.- 3. Relativistically Intense Electromagnetic Waves in Plasmas.- 4. Instabilities of Circularly Polarized Plane Electromagnetic Waves in Plasmas.- 5. Instabilities of Linearly Polarized Plane Electromagnetic Waves in Plasmas.- 6. Models of Nonlinear Propagation of Relativistically Intense Ultrashort Laser Pulses in Plasmas.- 7. Intense Laser Pulse Solitons in Plasmas.- 8. Relativistic and Charge-Displacement Self-Channeling of Intense Ultrashort Laser Pulses in Plasmas.- 9. Dynamics of Relativistic and Charge-Displacement Self-Channeling in Time and 2D Space.- 10. Propagation of Laser Radiation in Multiple-Stage Ionized Matter.- 11. Experiments on Laser—Matter Interaction in the Relativistic Regime.- References.

O autorze

Material is presented on both qualitative and mathematically formal levels. Simulation results are extensively illustrated. Most of the results described were obtained in the last several years. The book is a comprehensive presentation of laser physics at relativistic intensities for both advanced scientists and students as an introduction.

Blurb

This book addresses the nonlinear interactions of ultra-high-intensity electromagnetic radiation with matter. It describes fundamentally new regimes of laser pulse propagation, including relativistic and charge-displacement self-channelling and instabilities of electromagnetic radiation in plasmas (Raman scattering by plasmons, harmonic excitation, collective Compton effect). The analysis makes use of fully nonlinear models, analytical techniques and extensive simulations, whereby both qualitative and quantitative interpretations are included. The book provides a comprehensive introduction to laser physics at relativistic intensities that will be valuable to both researchers and graduate students.