Stimulated Compton scattering of electromagnetic waves in plasma
Abstract
The so-called stimulated Compton effect is investigated on a one-and-two-halves-dimensional electromagnetic plasma model. This effect results in a parametric instability in which an electromagnetic wave is backscattered off bunches of particles rather than off coherent plasma waves. Numerical simulations were carried out with pump frequency ranging from 1.8 ωpe to 5 ωpe. The momentum imparted by the pump wave to the plasma produces an averaged plasma drift motion in the direction of the pump wave and with velocity comparable to the electron thermal velocity (V0 ≃ VT ≃ 0.1 c). In some cases a multiple backscatter process is believed to be the saturation mechanism of the instability. Stimulated Compton scattering has been observed even for frequencies below 2 ωpe where the Raman instability cannot occur. However, in this region, a sufficiently strong pump can overcome the frequency mismatch and drive the system hydrodynamically unstable. In this situiation strong acceleration of some electrons occurs producing very energetic particles.
- Publication:
-
Physics of Fluids
- Pub Date:
- February 1975
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.861103
- Bibcode:
- 1975PhFl...18..201L
- Keywords:
-
- Backscattering;
- Compton Effect;
- Computerized Simulation;
- Electromagnetic Scattering;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Stability;
- Plasma-Electromagnetic Interaction;
- Electric Field Strength;
- Kinetic Equations;
- Laser Plasmas;
- Plasma Waves;
- Polarized Electromagnetic Radiation;
- Pumping;
- Plasma Physics