title: Enhanced propagation for relativistic laser pulses in inhomogeneous plasmas using hollow channels.
abstract: The influence of long (several millimeters) and hollow channels, bored in inhomogeneous ionized plasma by using a long pulse laser beam, on the propagation of short, ultraintense laser pulses has been studied. Compared to the case without a channel, propagation in channels significantly improves beam transmission and maintains a beam quality close to propagation in vacuum. In addition, the growth of the forward-Raman instability is strongly reduced. These results are beneficial for the direct scheme of the fast ignitor concept of inertial confinement fusion as we demonstrate, in fast-ignition-relevant conditions, that with such channels laser energy can be carried through increasingly dense plasmas close to the fuel core with minimal losses.
authors.affiliation: LULI, École Polytechnique, CNRS, CEA, UPMC, route de Saclay, 91128 Palaiseau, France. julien.fuchs@polytechnique.fr
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: d'Humières
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sentoku
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Antici
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atzeni
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bandulet
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Depierreux
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Labaune
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schiavi