Abstract

The study of high-intensity (>10¹⁴ W/cm²) laser interactions with dense (10¹⁷ cm^-3 < ρ ≲ 10²¹ cm^-3) plasmas has been limited by the concomitant problems introduced in beam propagation with the creation of a plasma. Typical experiments under these conditions experience severe limiting of the peak intensity which can be achieved. Furthermore, these experiments often have a large uncertainty about the actual plasma density/laser intensity conditions which occur in the interaction region. Experiments such as plasma wakefield acceleration and XUV recombination lasers require long interaction regions with well-characterized intensity and plasma density conditions. To solve the problem of beam propagation limitations in laser plasma interactions, two potential methods for creating transient propagation channels in gaseous targets are investigated. Each method comprises a two-pulse experiment, where the channel is formed by an initial laser pulse, and then is probed by a second, ultrashort, high-intensity pulse.

© 1994 Optical Society of America