Reflection of an electromagnetic pulse from a relativistically moving plasma

Abstract

AbstractThe reflection of an obliquely incident electromagnetic pulse from a moving plasma half-space is studied. Using the Lorentz transformations, covariance of Maxwell's equations and the principle of phase invariance to transform between the rest frame and the moving frame, calculations can be conveniently performed in the moving frame. An analytical formula for the linear reflected waveform as a function of the incident angle shows temporal compression and pulse amplification at relativistic velocities of relevance for the generation of ultra-short laser optical pulses.