Bow Wave from Ultraintense Electromagnetic Pulses in Plasmas

T. Zh. Esirkepov, Y. Kato, and S. V. Bulanov

Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 265001 – Published 30 December 2008

Abstract

We show a new effect of the bow-wave excitation by an intense short laser pulse propagating in underdense plasma. Because of spreading of the laser pulse energy in transverse direction, the bow wave causes a large-scale transverse modulation of the electron density. This can significantly increase the electric potential of the wake wave since the wake wave is generated in the region much wider than the laser pulse waist.

Received 12 September 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.265001

Authors & Affiliations

T. Zh. Esirkepov¹, Y. Kato², and S. V. Bulanov^1,*

¹Advanced Photon Research Center, JAEA, Umemidai 8-1, Kizugawa, Kyoto 619-0215, Japan
²The Graduate School for the Creation of New Photonics Industries, Kurematsucho 1955-1, Nishiku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-1202, Japan

^*Also at A. M. Prokhorov Institute of General Physics of RAS, Moscow, Russia.

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Issue

Vol. 101, Iss. 26 — 31 December 2008

Reuse & Permissions

Access Options

Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Physical Review Letters