Particle-in-cell Simulations of Raman Laser Amplification in Ionizing Plasmas

Clark, Daniel S. ; Fisch, Nathaniel J.

Princeton University. Plasma Physics Laboratory.

关键词: Amplification;    Pumping;    Laser-Plasma Interactions;    70 Plasma Physics And Fusion Technology;    Modulation;   

DOI  :  10.2172/814693
RP-ID  :  PPPL-3829
RP-ID  :  AC02-76CH03073
RP-ID  :  814693

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

By using the amplifying laser pulse in a plasma-based backward Raman laser amplifier to generate the plasma by photo-ionization of a gas simultaneous with the amplification process, possible instabilities of the pumping laser pulse can be avoided. Particle-in-cell simulations are used to study this amplification mechanism, and earlier results using more elementary models of the Raman interaction are verified [D.S. Clark and N.J. Fisch, Phys. Plasmas, 9 (6): 2772-2780, 2002]. The effects (unique to amplification in ionizing plasmas and not included in previous simulations) of blue-shifting of the pump and seed laser pulses and the generation of a wake are observed not significantly to impact the amplification process. As expected theoretically, the peak output intensity is found to be limited to I {approx} 10{sup 17} W/cm{sup 2} by forward Raman scattering of the amplifying seed. The integrity of the ionization front of the seed pulse against the development of a possible transverse modulation instability is also demonstrated.