Enhanced plasma ion heating by lasers in inhomogeneous external magnetic field

Abstract

Particle–In–Cell simulations have been carried out to study the propagation of a laser pulse inside a plasma medium threaded with an external magnetic field. The external magnetic field is chosen to have space variations, which ensure that the laser pulse penetrates inside the plasma slab following the pass band dispersion relation of the X-mode. The spatial variation of the magnetic field is chosen such that the LH resonance is encountered within the bulk plasma medium. Enhanced deposition of laser energy to ions at the resonance layer has been demonstrated. This scheme would thus be useful to heat ions at any desired bulk region of the plasma.