Stopping and acceleration effect of protons in a plasma in the presence ofan intense radiation field

We investigate the inelastic interaction between charged particles and an e lectron plasma in the presence of an intense radiation field (RF). We calcu late the mean stopping power (SP) of the test particle in the high-frequenc y limit (omega(0) >> omega(p), where omega(0) is the frequency of RF and om ega(p) is the plasma frequency). It is shown, that acceleration of the part icle due to RF is expected in the high-intensity limit, when the 'quiver ve locity' of the plasma electrons is greater than the test particle velocity. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.