Ultra-High-Intensity Laser Propagation Through Underdense Plasma
Abstract
Picosecond resolution shadowgraphy is a powerful tool for measurement of high-intensity laser propagation instabilities through underdense plasma. It is shown that as the plasma density increases, the laser beam is subject to severe filamentation instabilities—likely due to the effect of stimulated Raman side-scattering. At higher plasma densities, scattering and absorption are so severe that the propagation distance of the high intensity laser pulse is reduced.