EVOLUTION OF A PLASMA WAVE-GUIDE CREATED DURING RELATIVISTIC-PONDEROMOTIVE SELF-CHANNELING OF AN INTENSE LASER-PULSE

An on-axis plasma density depression channel was observed during and a fter the passage of a relativistically and ponderomotively self-guided laser pulse through a plasma. Optical interferometry was used to prod uce time-resolved plasma density distributions, revealing the formatio n of a plasma waveguide. These results were complemented by the guidin g of a collinear trailing pulse.