title: Experimental evidence of predominantly transverse electron plasma waves driven by stimulated Raman scattering of picosecond laser pulses.
abstract: We report on highly time- and space-resolved measurements of the evolution of electron plasma waves driven by stimulated Raman scattering of a picosecond, single laser speckle propagating through a preformed underdense plasma. Two-dimensional Thomson scatter spectra indicate that the dominant waves have significant transverse components. These results are supported by particle-in-cell simulations which pinpoint the dominant role of the wave front bowing and of secondary nonlinear electrostatic instabilities in the evolution of the plasma waves.
authors.affiliation: CEA, DAM, DIF, 91297 Arpajon Cedex, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rousseaux
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Baton
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bénisti
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gremillet
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Héron
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Strozzi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amiranoff