Twisted Waves near a Plasma Cutoff

Abstract

This work considers twisted wave propagation in inhomogeneous and unmagnetised plasma, and discusses the wave properties in the cutoff region. The qualitative differences between twisted waves described by a single Laguerre–Gauss (LG) mode, and light springs resulting from the superposition of two or more LG modes with different frequency and helicity are studied. The peculiar properties displayed by these waves in the nonuniform plasma are discussed. The pulse envelope of a light-spring shows a contraction at reflection, which resembles that of a compressed mechanical spring. The case of normal incidence is examined, and nonlinear ponderomotive effects are discussed, using theory and simulations.

Keywords

• POAM
• Laguerre–Gauss
• plasma
• cutoff