Self-focusing and defocusing of Gaussian laser beams in plasmas with linear temperature ramp

Abstract

The propagation characteristics of the Gaussian laser beam in plasmas in the presence of a linear electron temperature ramp have been investigated by taking the electron temperature as an individual variable. The ponderomotive force and collision have been considered as the mechanisms of nonlinearity. The second order differential equation of the dimensionless beam-width parameter has been acquired and solved with several initial electron temperatures and plus-minus temperature ramp parameters. The propagation regimes of laser beam are found to be sensitive with the selection of electron temperature. The linear temperature ramp breaks the stationary propagating mode and enhances the self-focusing or defocusing propagation properties. Results indicate the feasibility of extended propagation of focused laser beam in plasmas by modifying the electron temperature.