Stimulated Brillouin backscatter in the presence of transverse plasma flow

Three-dimensional simulations show that stimulated Brillouin backscattered (SBS) light can be deflected in a direction opposite to transverse plasma f low. When the backscatter gain occurs predominantly in the region beyond wh ere the incident light is deflected by transverse flow, and when the backsc atter gain from the deflected incident light region Is detuned from the und eflected incident light region by axial flow gradients, the SBS deflection correlates well with the steering of the incident beam. The level of Brillo uin backscatter gain in the presence of transverse flow is less than that i n the absence of transverse flow because of convective damping, where ion a coustic waves are swept out of the high intensity regions(s) of a beam. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S1070-664X(99)01202-1].