This book addresses the nonlinear interactions of ultra-high-intensity electromagnetic radiation with matter. It describes fundamentally new regimes of laser pulse propagation, including relativistic and charge-displacement self-channelling and instabilities of electromagnetic radiation in plasmas (Raman scattering by plasmons, harmonic excitation, collective Compton effect). The analysis makes use of fully nonlinear models, analytical techniques and extensive simulations, whereby both qualitative and quantitative interpretations are included. The book provides a comprehensive introduction to laser physics at relativistic intensities that will be valuable to both researchers and graduate students.

Klappentext

For the first time in a book, this monograph describes relativistic and charge-displacement self-channelling, which is the major finding in the physics of superintense laser beams. It also presents general nonlinear models of lasers - plasma interactions specifically in the case of extremely high intensities.

Inhalt

1. Introduction.- 2. Fundamentals of Cold Plasma Electrodynamics.- 3. Relativistically Intense Electromagnetic Waves in Plasmas.- 4. Instabilities of Circularly Polarized Plane Electromagnetic Waves in Plasmas.- 5. Instabilities of Linearly Polarized Plane Electromagnetic Waves in Plasmas.- 6. Models of Nonlinear Propagation of Relativistically Intense Ultrashort Laser Pulses in Plasmas.- 7. Intense Laser Pulse Solitons in Plasmas.- 8. Relativistic and Charge-Displacement Self-Channeling of Intense Ultrashort Laser Pulses in Plasmas.- 9. Dynamics of Relativistic and Charge-Displacement Self-Channeling in Time and 2D Space.- 10. Propagation of Laser Radiation in Multiple-Stage Ionized Matter.- 11. Experiments on Laser-Matter Interaction in the Relativistic Regime.- References.