Propagation and amplification of microwave radiation in a plasma channel created in gas by a high-power femtosecond UV laser pulse

Abstract

The time evolution of a nonequilibrium plasma channel created in a noble gas by a high-power femtosecond KrF laser pulse is investigated. It is shown that such a channel possesses specific electrodynamic properties and can be used as a waveguide for efficient transportation and amplification of microwave pulses. The propagation of microwave radiation in a plasma waveguide is analyzed by self-consistently solving (i) the Boltzmann kinetic equation for the electron energy distribution function at different spatial points and (ii) the wave equation in the parabolic approximation for a microwave pulse transported along the plasma channel.