Scattering of ultrashort laser pulses in Maxwellian plasmas: Transition scattering

Abstract

In this paper, we presented a model, describing transition scattering of ultrashort laser pulses (USLPs) in Maxwellian plasmas in terms of the full spectral-angular probability during the entire time of pulse action. We demonstrated that in the case of the USLP, probability dependence on pulse duration (τ-dependence) generally is a non-monotonic function. The main trends of the τ-dependence were defined. For quasi-elastic transition scattering, we derived analytical formulas of the full spectral-angular probability that describes non-monotonic areas of the τ-dependence with high accuracy. In the framework of the analytical approach, we established conditions, at which non-monotonic trends are realized, and assessed dynamics of local extremes at the variation of problem parameters. We compared τ-dependence, angular dependence of transition, and Thomson scattering probability and assessed limits of analytical approximations. The crucial similarities and differences of these two types of scattering were described.