EQUIVALENT CHARGE OF PHOTONS AND NEUTRINOS IN A PLASMA

It is suggested that it is possible to define an equivalent electric c harge for an intense laser pulse (which can be described as a photon b unch) propagating in a plasma. It is also shown that this equivalent c harge can be a source of new radiation processes in an inhomogeneous p lasma. The results are extended to the case of a neutrino bunch, which is coupled to the plasma by weak nuclear forces. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sc ience B.V.