Profile modifications at critical density of laser-produced plasmas

Profile modification by the ponderomotive force of the mode-converted Langmuir waves at critical density of a laser-irradiated plasma is investigated. A nonlinear Schrödinger equation governing the interaction of Langmuir waves with slow plasma motion is obtained taking into account the plasma inhomogeneity, dissipation, and a driver. The initial value problem is solved by means of the inverse scattering method. The soliton formation and self-consistent density steepemng at the critical layer are investigated.