A scheme of phase-matched terahertz generation by beating two co-propagating lasers in magnetized plasma, in the presence of a magnetosonic wave (MSW), is developed. The beat frequency ponderomotive force of the lasers imparts an oscillatory drift to electrons. The electron drift velocity couples with the electron density perturbation associated with the MSW to produce an irrotational nonlinear current $\left(\nabla \times {\vec J}\;{}^{\rm NL}\ne 0\right)$. The beat current density resonantly excites a THz (Terahertz) radiation when the phase-matching conditions are satisfied. The MSW mediates the phase matching. At 9.6 and 10.6 µm wavelengths, and background magnetic field of 285 kG, one may achieve normalized THz wave amplitude of the order of 10−3 and one obtains the ratio of THz power to pump power of the order of 10−6.

Filamentation is one of the most common nonlinear phenomena taking place in the laser–plasma interaction that splits the laser beam into high-intensity spikes. The present study deals with the nonlinear evolution of filamentation instability in laser–plasma interaction and the development of chaos in contrast to linear growth as reported by Kaw et al. in 1973. We have considered a non-uniform perturbation superimposed on plane-wave pump such that due to non-uniformity of the perturbation a finite intensity gradient arises and gives rise to ponderomotive force. This causes filamentation of wave, which has been studied presently using numerical methods as well as analytical tools. The results reveal that the intensity of perturbation gets localized and delocalized with the distance of propagation. The numerical simulation results also reveal that the intensity of perturbation route from ordered to chaotic behavior depending upon the pump laser and perturbation parameters. To study the chaotic behavior, Lyapunov exponents has also been calculated. The semi-analytical method is also developed to have an insight into some of the features of simulation like the formation of localized structures.

This paper presents a theoretical model for efficient terahertz (THz) radiation by self-focused amplitude-modulated laser beam in preformed ripple density plasma. The density of plasma is modified due to ponderomotive nonlinearity which arises because of the nonuniform spatial profile of the laser beam in magnetized plasma and leads to the self-focusing of the laser beam. The rate of self-focusing depends on the intensity of the amplitude-modulated beam as well as on the externally applied magnetic field strength. The electron also experiences time-dependent ponderomotive force by the laser beam at modulated frequency. A nonlinear current at THz frequency arises on account of the coupling between the ripple density plasma and nonlinear oscillatory velocity of the electrons. The yield of the generated THz radiation enhances with enhancement in self-focusing of the laser beam and applied magnetic field.

The effect of self-focusing and defocusing on terahertz (THz) generation by amplitude-modulated Gaussian laser beam in rippled density plasma is investigated. A stronger transient transverse current is generated by transverse component of ponderomotive force exerted by laser on electrons that drives radiation at the modulation frequency (which is chosen to be in the THz domain) because of the variation in intensity in the direction transverse to the laser propagation. Numerical simulations indicate the enhancement of THz yield by many folds due to self-focusing of laser beam in comparison with that without self-focusing. The transient focusing of laser beam and its effect on the generated THz amplitude has also been studied.

This paper presents an investigation for excitation of ion acoustic wave and resulting stimulated Brillouin scattering in a collisionless plasma due to presence of a laser beam carrying null intensity at center (hollow Gaussian beam). In presence of ponderomotive nonlinearity, the pump beam get focused and affects the back stimulated Brillouin scattering process. To understand the nature of laser plasma coupling, a paraxial-ray approximation has been invoked for the propagation of the hollow Gaussian beam, ion acoustic wave, and stimulated Brillouin scattering. It is observed from the result that self-focusing and back reflectivity reduces for higher order of hollow Gaussian beam.

This paper presents a model for excitation of electron plasma wave and resulting stimulated Raman scattering due to presence of a laser beam carrying null intensity in center (hollow Gaussian beam) in a collisionless plasma. We have studied the self-focusing of the hollow Gaussian beam and its effect on back stimulated Raman scattering process in the presence of ponderomotive nonlinearity. To understand the nature of propagation of the hollow Gaussian beam, electron plasma wave and back reflectivity, a paraxial-ray approximation has been invoked. It is predicted that self-focusing and back reflectivity reduces for higher order of hollow Gaussian beam.

This paper presents an investigation of the excitation of a Tera hertz (THz) radiation by nonlinear interaction of a circularly polarized high power laser beam and density ripple in collisionless magneto plasma. The ponderomotive force due to the nonlinear interaction between the laser and density ripple generates a nonlinear current at a difference frequency. If the appropriate phase matching conditions are satisfied and the frequency of the ripple is appropriate, then this difference frequency can be brought in the THz range. Filamentation (self focusing) of a circularly polarized beam propagating along the direction of ambient magnetic field in plasma is first investigated within paraxial ray approximation. The beam gets focused when the initial power of the laser beam is greater than its critical power. Resulting localized beam couples with the pre-existing density ripple to produce a nonlinear current driving the THz radiation. Analytical expressions for the beam width of the laser beam, electric vector of the THz wave have been obtained. By changing the strength of the magnetic field, one can enhance or suppress the THz emission. For typical laser beam and plasma parameters with the incident laser power flux = 1014 W/cm2, laser beam radius (r0) = 40 µm, laser frequency (ω0) = 1014 rad/s and plasma density (n0) = 3 × 1018 cm−3, normalized ripple density amplitude (μ) = 0.3, the produced THz emission can be at the level of Giga watt in power.

In this article, filamentation of a high power laser beam in hot collisionless plasma is investigated considering the ponderomotive nonlinearity. We have studied the effect of self focusing (filamentation) of the laser beam on the localization of ion acoustic wave (IAW) and on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) process. The nonlinear coupling between the laser beam and IAW results in the modification of the Eigen frequency of IAW; consequently, enhanced Landau damping of IAW and a modified mismatch factor in SBS process occur. Due to enhanced Landau damping, there is a reduction in the intensity of IAW wave, and the SBS process gets suppressed. For the typical laser plasma parameters: the laser power flux = 1016 W/cm2, laser beam radius (r0) = 12 µm, n/ncr = 0.11, and (Te/Ti) = 10, the SBS reflectivity is found to be suppressed approximately by 10%.

An analytical formalism of self focusing and self-phase modulation of an intense short pulse laser in a plasma due to relativistic and ponderomotive nonlinearities is developed. In the paraxial ray approximation, the pulse retains its Gaussian radial profile, however, its spot size varies with the distance of propagation in a periodic manner. It is influenced by self focusing. The frequency of the laser undergoes red shift. For a tanhyperbolic temporal profile of pulse, the red-shift is maximum at the foot of the pulse and decreases slowly as one goes to higher and higher intensity portions. The effect of ponderomotive nonlinearity is very significant in this respect. The maximum downshift occurs at a distance at which the laser acquires a minimum spot size. With retarded time normalized axial intensity increases more at z ~ Rd and the radial intensity is also more narrowly peaked at z ~ Rd, where Rd = 2π r02/λ is the Rayleigh length, r0 and λ are the spot size and wavelength of the laser pulse respectively.

In this paper, the effect of a relativistically intense Gaussian laser pulse, on the propagation of electron plasma wave is studied. The nonlinear effects considered here are the relativistic decrease of the plasma frequency and the ponderomotive expelling of the electrons. Modified coupled equations for laser and electron plasma wave are derived from fluid equations. These coupled equations are solved analytically and numerically to study the laser intensity in the plasma and the variation of amplitude of the excited electron plasma wave. It is seen that the effect of including the ponderomotive nonlinearity is significant on the excitation of plasma wave. This should affect the number of energetic electrons and their energy range on account of wave particle interaction.