Evolution of intense laser pulse spot size propagating in collisional plasma embedded in magnetic field with variable direction

Abstract

In this study, propagation of an intense laser pulse through collisional, homogenous, magnetized plasma has been investigated. The plasma is embedded in an external magnetic field with the amplitude and variable direction being constant. The complex dispersion relation of the plasma medium has been obtained that predicates the Faraday rotation effect. The paraxial wave equation has been used for the study of propagation of laser pulse in plasma. The nonlinear current density vector as a source of wave equation is obtained by motion equation and continuity equation of plasma free electrons. Using the source dependent expansion method, the evolution of laser pulse spot size has been investigated. It is shown that the spot size of the laser pulse is dependent on the strength and direction of the external magnetic field significantly. The effect of collision frequency on the evolution of spot size has been studied. The space damping rate of laser pulse power along the propagation length due to collision is obtained. Results show that the increase in the external magnetic field strength increases the rate of laser energy loss.