Mathematical models for laser-plasma interaction

CEA/Bruyeres, B.P. 12, 91680 Bruyères-le-Chatel, France. remi.sentis@cea.fr

Received: 25 June 2004

Abstract

We address here mathematical models related to the Laser-Plasma Interaction. After a simplified introduction to the physical background concerning the modelling of the laser propagation and its interaction with a plasma, we recall some classical results about the geometrical optics in plasmas. Then we deal with the well known paraxial approximation of the solution of the Maxwell equation; we state a coupling model between the plasma hydrodynamics and the laser propagation. Lastly, we consider the coupling with the ion acoustic waves which has to be taken into account to model the so called Brillouin instability. Here, besides the macroscopic density and the velocity of the plasma, one has to handle the space-time envelope of the main laser wave, the space-time envelope of the stimulated Brillouin backscattered laser wave and the space envelope of the Brillouin ion acoustic waves. Numerical methods are also described to deal with the paraxial model and the three-wave coupling system related to the Brillouin instability.