Optical Multi-hysteresises and "Rogue Waves" in Nonlinear Plasma

TL;DR

This paper investigates nonlinear optical phenomena in overdense plasmas, revealing multiple hysteresis behaviors and the formation of giant rogue waves caused by relativistic electron effects, with implications for plasma optics.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of multi-hysteresis and rogue wave formation in nonlinear plasma layers driven by relativistic electron mass effects, expanding understanding of plasma optical responses.

Findings

Multiple hysteresis cycles observed in plasma reflection and transition.

Gigantic rogue waves as trapped quasi-soliton spikes.

Phenomena persist in layers with soft boundaries and semi-infinite plasmas.

Abstract

An overdense plasma layer irradiated by an intense light can exhibit dramatic nonlinear-optical effects due to a relativistic mass-effect of free electrons: highly-multiple hysteresises of reflection and transition, and emergence of gigantic "rogue waves". Those are trapped quasi-soliton field spikes inside the layer, sustained by an incident radiation with a tiny fraction of their peak intensity once they have been excited by orders of magnitude larger pumping. The phenomenon persists even in the layers with "soft" boundaries, as well as in a semi-infinite plasma with low absorption.