Laser Amplification in Strongly Magnetized Plasma

Matthew R. Edwards, Yuan Shi, Julia M. Mikhailova, Nathaniel J. Fisch

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

We consider backscattering of laser pulses in strongly magnetized plasma mediated by kinetic magnetohydrodynamic waves. Magnetized low-frequency (MLF) scattering, which can occur when the external magnetic field is neither perpendicular nor parallel to the laser propagation direction, provides an instability growth rate higher than Raman scattering and a frequency downshift comparable to Brillouin scattering. In addition to the high growth rate, which allows smaller plasmas, and the 0.1%-2% frequency downshift, which permits a wide range of pump sources, MLF scattering is an ideal candidate for amplification because the process supports an exceptionally large bandwidth, which particle-in-cell simulations show produces ultrashort durations. Under some conditions, MLF scattering also becomes the dominant spontaneous backscatter instability, with implications for magnetized laser-confinement experiments.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number025001
JournalPhysical review letters
Volume123
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 9 2019

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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