Effect of an external magnetic field on the self-focusing of a cosh-Gaussian laser beam in plasma under the relativistic-ponderomotive effect

Abstract

This work presents an analytical and numerical study of the relativistic-ponderomotive effect on self-focusing of an intense cosh-Gaussian laser beam in a collisionless magnetized plasma by considering an external magnetic field in the direction of propagation of the laser beam. The nonlinear differential equation for the beam width parameter/intensity of a cosh-Gaussian laser beam in a magnetized plasma is obtained by Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin (WKB) and paraxial-ray approximations. The self-focusing of the cosh-Gaussian beam at different values of the magnetic field parameter is investigated. The results have also been compared to relativistic nonlinearity. The results show that the self-focusing effect of cosh-Gaussian beam in magnetized plasma becomes stronger, when relativistic and ponderomotive nonlinearities acts together. In addition, the self-trapping of cosh-Gaussian beam in magnetized plasma has also been studied. Numerical results are presented for the well-established laser and plasma parameters.