EPJ Web of Conferences (Jan 2018)
Ray optics hamiltonian approach to relativistic self focusing of ultraintense lasers in underdense plasmas
Abstract
The relativistic self focusing of an ultraintense laser propagating through an underdense plasma is analyzed from a geometrical optics point of view, exploiting the classical hamiltonian formalism. The distribution of the laser intensity along the self-generated plasma channel is studied and compared to measurements.