Plasma and Fusion Research

Volume 3, 063 (2008)

Regular Articles

Particle-in-Cell Simulation of the Measurement of Laser Wakefields with Raman Scattering of Probe Laser Light
Weimin ZHOU, Kunioki MIMA and Hideo NAGATOMO
Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
(Received 24 September 2008 / Accepted 11 November 2008 / Published 26 December 2008)

Abstract

A diagnostic method for measuring nonlinear evolution of a laser wakefield by multiple sidebands of Raman scattering using probe laser light has been reported. In this paper, particle-in-cell simulations are used to demonstrate the validity of this probing method. The influence of plasma density, pump laser intensity, propagation length, and nonlinearity of the wakefield on probe laser light has been investigated. In particular, when trapping and acceleration of electrons occurs, the wing structure of the spectrum of probe laser light indicates the existence of highly relativistic electrons from which the injection fraction of the accelerated electrons can be obtained. Thus, this diagnostic method can be employed to measure laser wakefields conveniently for various purposes.

Keywords

intense laser, wakefield, Raman scattering, probe laser light, particle-in-cell simulation

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.3.063

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This paper may be cited as follows:

Weimin ZHOU, Kunioki MIMA and Hideo NAGATOMO, Plasma Fusion Res. 3, 063 (2008).