Laser Pulse Compression Using Magnetized Plasmas

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel laser pulse compression method using magnetized plasmas, which reduces wave damping and instabilities, enabling higher frequency and longer duration pulses with less demanding plasma conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a new technique employing external magnetic fields to facilitate laser pulse compression, overcoming limitations of wave damping at high plasma densities.

Findings

Magnetic fields reduce plasma density requirements.

The method mitigates wave damping and instabilities.

Enables higher frequency laser pulse compression.

Abstract

Proposals to reach the next generation of laser intensities through Raman or Brillouin backscattering have centered on optical frequencies. Higher frequencies are beyond the range of such methods mainly due to the wave damping that accompanies the higher density plasmas necessary for compressing higher frequency lasers. However, we find that an external magnetic field transverse to the direction of laser propagation can reduce the required plasma density. Using parametric interactions in magnetized plasmas to mediate pulse compression both reduces the wave damping and alleviates instabilities, thereby enabling higher frequency or lower intensity pumps to produce pulses at higher intensity and longer duration. In addition to these theoretical advantages, our new method, in which strong uniform magnetic fields lessen the need for high-density uniform plasmas, also lessens key engineering challenges, or at least exchanges them for different challenges.