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Effect of self focusing on the prolongation of laser produced plasma channel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2009

U. Verma  and
A.K. Sharma
U. Verma*
Affiliation:
Center for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
A.K. Sharma
Affiliation:
Center for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Updesh Verma, Center for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi-110016, India. E-mail: updesh.verma@mail2.iitd.ac.in
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Abstract

A theoretical model for the prolongation of lifetime of a gaseous plasma channel formed by two pulse technique at laser intensities below the tunnel ionization threshold is developed. The first laser pulse ionizes the gas completely on the axis and partially off the axis, causing self-defocusing of the pulse. After the passage of the pulse, the plasma expands radially, creating an atom/ion density profile with a minimum on the axis. Partial recombination also sets in. As the second pulse arrives, after a time delay of less than the recombination time (~ns), the electrons get heated, and the recombination rate is slowed down. The second pulse self focuses, enhancing the heating rate and lengthening the lifetime of the plasma channel.

Keywords

LaserPlasma channelSelf focusing and prolongationTheoretical model
Type
Research Article
Information
Laser and Particle Beams , Volume 27 , Issue 1 , March 2009 , pp. 33 - 39
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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