Propagation characteristics of a high-power beam in weakly relativistic-ponderomotive thermal quantum plasma

Abstract

Abstract The present work explores the propagation characteristics of high-power beams in weakly relativistic-ponderomotive thermal quantum plasma. A q-Gaussian laser beam is taken in the present investigation. The quasi-optics equation obtained in the present study is solved through a well-established Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin approximation and paraxial theory approach for obtaining the second-order differential equation describing the behavior of beam width of the laser beam. Further, a numerical simulation of this second-order differential equation is carried out for determining the behavior of the beam width with dimensionless distance for established laser–plasma parameters. The comparison of the present study is made with ordinary quantum plasma and classical relativistic plasma cases.