Simulation of laser beam propagation through an axisymmetric dense plasma

Abstract

A numerical simulation is reported of the parameters of laser radiation after its propagation through an axisymmetric dense plasma. It is shown that, for typical laser plasma and Z pinch parameters, the depolarisation of probe radiation is considerably less than in the case of the magneto-optical Faraday effect. The conclusions drawn from this simulation are supported by experimental probing of a laser plasma. New direct methods for measuring the magnetic induction and the frequency of electron—ion collisions are proposed.