Self-focused amplitude modulated super Gaussian laser beam in plasma and THz radiation with high efficiency

Abstract

Based on self- focusing of an amplitude modulated super Gaussian laser beam in preformed ripple density plasma, one scheme can be proposed for generating terahertz (THz) radiation at the modulation frequency when pondermotive nonlinearity is operative. The eikonal in paraxial ray approximation (PRA) along with higher order terms in the expansion of the dielectric function have been taken into account. Intensity variation in the direction transverse to the propagated laser causes a pondermotive force which generates transient transverse nonlinear current. At the modulation frequency, the mentioned current drives radiation in THz domain. Therefore, comparing to simple PRA, inclusion of terms with higher order enhances beam self-focusing, THz radiation field and, efficiency. In addition, the degree of the self-focusing is reduced in higher laser beam orders and has changed by the modulation index and the time. Here, by considering higher order paraxial ray approximation and optimizing laser beam and ripple density, plasma parameters are investigated and the efficiency of THz radiation reaches up to 6.5%. This method can be applied for the efficient types of THz radiation.