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Laser hosing in relativistically hot plasmas
1Department of Mechanical Engineering and Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|August 29, 2014
Summary
Relativistic electron temperatures in intense lasers reduce hosing instabilities. This finding resolves discrepancies between nonrelativistic theory and experimental observations of laser-plasma interactions.
Area of Science:
- Plasma physics
- High-intensity laser-matter interactions
Background:
- Understanding electron behavior in intense laser fields is crucial for controlling laser-plasma instabilities.
- Previous theories on laser hosing did not fully account for relativistic electron temperatures, leading to discrepancies with experimental data.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate electron response in intense laser fields under relativistic electron temperatures.
- To rederive fluid equations incorporating relativistic plasma temperature effects.
- To analyze the impact of relativistic temperatures on laser hosing instabilities.
Main Methods:
- Derivation of laser envelope and plasma density evolution equations from relativistic fluid equations.
- Inclusion of relativistic plasma temperature effects in the derived equations.
- Application of a variational method to study short-pulse and long-pulse laser hosing instabilities.
Main Results:
- Relativistic electron temperatures were found to decrease the growth rates of laser hosing instabilities.
- The fastest-growing modes for hosing were observed to shift towards longer wavelengths due to relativistic effects.
- The study provides a theoretical framework that aligns with experimental and simulation results.
Conclusions:
- Relativistic electron temperatures play a significant role in mitigating laser hosing instabilities.
- The derived equations and analysis offer a more accurate description of laser-plasma interactions in the relativistic regime.
- This work resolves a long-standing discrepancy in the theoretical understanding of laser hosing.
