Interaction of nonlinear waves in relativistic plasmas; From basic theory to the development of sources of high energy particles and photons

Bulanov, S. V.

In thermal plasmas, the electron density distribution in the breaking wave has a typical "peakon" form. The structure of the density singularity formed in a relativistically large amplitude plasma wave close to the wave-breaking limit leads to a refraction coefficient which has a coordinate dependence with discontinuous derivatives. This results in a non-exponentially small above-barrier reflection of an electromagnetic wave interacting with the nonlinear plasma wave. The ion acceleration by the radiation pressure of the laser pulse occurs in the form of the breaking wave. It is found that the beams of accelerated at the collisionless shock wave front ions are unstable against the Buneman-lke and the Weibel-like instabilities which result in the ion energy spectrum broadening.