RELATIVISTIC SELF-FOCUSING IN A PLASMA

The general properties of stationary waveguides formed in plasma by re lativistic self-focusing of ultrapowerful laser pulses are investigate d on the basis of a modified nonlinear Schrodinger equation. It is sho wn that the waveguides can transport arbitrary amounts of energy and t hat their characteristic size has a lower limit. The formation of the waveguides is studied. It is found that for ultrahigh laser power leve ls a qualitatively new regime of self-excited oscillations of the ''va cuum channel'' appears. (C) 1995 American Institute of Physics.