Observation of Raman forward scattering and electron acceleration in the relativistic regime

• Published in: IEEE transactions on plasma science Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 289 - 295
• Main Authors: Modena, A., Najmudin, Z., Dangor, A.E., Clayton, C.E., Marsh, K.A., Joshi, C., Malka, V., Darrow, C.B., Danson, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01.04.1996; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE); Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Subjects: Acceleration; Accelerator Physics; Electron beams; Electrons; Frequency; Laboratories; Laser beams; Laser fusion; Lasers; Optical pulses; Optics; Particle accelerators; Physics; Plasma; Plasma accelerators; Plasma Physics; Plasma waves; Raman scattering
• ISSN: 0093-3813; 1939-9375
• DOI: 10.1109/27.509992

Raman forward scattering (RFS) is observed in the interaction of a high intensity (>10/sup 18/ W/cm/sup 2/) short pulse (<1 ps) laser with an underdense plasma (n/sub e//spl sim/10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/). Electrons are trapped and accelerated up to 44 MeV by the high-amplitude plasma wave produced by RFS. The laser spectrum is strongly modulated by the interaction, showing sidebands at the plasma frequency. Furthermore, as the quiver velocity of the electrons in the high electric field of the laser beam becomes relativistic, various effects are observed which can be attributed to the variation of electron mass with laser intensity.