Relativistic Laser Plasma Interactions

Abstract

When a relativistic laser is impinged to low-density plasma, the electrons start moving to the laser propagation direction and induce charge separation from heavy ions. It becomes to consider the role of the generated electrostatic field. Also the mass correction by relativity modifies the electron oscillation un-harmonic, and consequently higher harmonic generation is observed. Not only higher frequency but also lower frequency photon cascade appears. Ponderomotive force is derived for relativistic case. Without electron density modification, the nonlinearity of mass induces relativistic filamentation. It is shown that the SRS is enhanced in relativistic laser plasma. The vxB force is effective to generate the electron current jets into the solid density with 2ω period. So-called ponderomotive scaling is discussed.