Nonlinear distortion of a laser pulse in a magnetized plasma

Nonlinear propagation of a circularly polarized intense short-pulse laser through a plasma, immersed in a strong axial magnetic field, is examined. The relativistic mass effect makes the group velocity of the laser intensity-dependent. Different portions of the laser pulse travel with different group velocities. For an initially Gaussian pulse, steepening of the laser-pulse amplitude profile occurs, which is then followed by shock formation. The propagation characteristic of the laser is also sensitive to the choice of the ratio of laser frequency to electron cyclotron frequency, and the ratio of plasma frequency to electron cyclotron frequency.

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