Some nonlinear processes relevant to the beat wave accelerator Available to Purchase

The beat wave accelerator¹ depends on the generation of a large amplitude plasma wave with a phase velocity close to the velocity of light c. The plasma wave (ω_p,k_p) is generated by beating colinear laser beams (ω₁,k₁) and (ω₂,k₂) with ω_p=ω₁−ω₂, k_p=k₁−k₂. Since the process involves both large amplitude transverse and longitudional waves, various nonlinear instabilities associated with either wave may occur. The object of this article is to discuss some of the processes that may compete with the beat wave generation listing their threshold and growth rate.