Laser pulse compression and intensity enhancement in plasma

• DOI: 10.1063/1.4963256
• Publication Date: 2016-09-28T17:00:46Z
• Authors: Pradeep Kumar Gupta; Swati Sharma; Nidhi Gaur; Ram Kishor Singh; R. P. Sharma; R. Uma
• Keywords: 0103 physical sciences; 01 natural sciences

We present modeling of laser pulse compression and intensity enhancement during propagation in underdense plasma having relativistic intensity. Pulse duration shortens to less than 5 fs and 11 times intensity enhancement has been reported. Nonlinearity of plasma generates new frequency by self phase modulation which broadens the frequency spectrum of the pulse that in turn shortens the pulse duration. High intensity pulse pushes the velocity of electrons up to relativistic limit which in turn modifies the dielectric constant of plasma. Modification of the refractive index profile causes the self focusing of laser pulse. Pulse duration shortening and intensity enhancement happen in accordance with length of the plasma medium and density of the plasma.