Theory of Raman sidescatter from a magnetized plasma

Abstract

The effects of a d.c. magnetic field on stimulated Raman sidescatter from laser-produced plasmas is studied. For exact sidescatter along the magnetic field, the Raman instability separates into two distinct decays in which the scattered light is either a right (RHCP) or left (LHCP) circularly polarized electromagnetic wave. Growth rates of the instabilities can be enhanced in the former case but are diminished in the latter. The magnetic field induced effects are greatest near the quarter critical density where frequency shifts can be especially significant, being equal to ± ¼Ωc for decay into RHCP and LHCP waves, respectively.