Turning point temperature of self-focusing at laser–plasma interaction with weak relativistic-ponderomotive nonlinearity: effect of light absorption

Abstract

In this communication, we have examined the influence of light absorption on turning point temperature of self-focusing in the interaction of Gaussian laser beam in plasma. The dielectric function of plasma introduced herein is under weak relativistic and ponderomotive regime. Differential equation for beam-width parameter has been established by using parabolic equation approach under WKB and paraxial approximations. Numerical analysis shows that light absorption plays an important role on turning point temperature of self-focusing under relativistic and ponderomotive regime. It is also found that variation of normalized plasma density, normalized laser intensity parameter and plasma dielectric function with dimensionless distance of propagation gives reasonably interesting results.