Coherent control of stimulated Raman scattering using chirped laser pulses

A novel method for the control of stimulated Raman scattering and hot elect ron production in short-pulse laser-plasma interactions is proposed. It rel ies on the use of a linear frequency chirp in nonbandwidth limited pulses. Theoretical calculations show that a 12% bandwidth will eliminate Raman for ward scattering for a plasma density that is 1% of the critical density. Th e predicted changes to the growth rate are confirmed in two-dimensional par ticle-in-cell simulations. Relevance to areas of current research is also d iscussed. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.