Polarization, hosing and long time evolution of relativistic laser pulses

The effect of the pulse polarization and of the accelerated fast electrons on the propagation anomalies ("hosing" and "snaking") of a high-intensity l aser pulse in an underdense plasma is investigated with two dimensional par ticle in cell simulations. The pulse deflection and the type of plasma mode s (solitons, vortices) into which the laser pulse energy is eventually depo sited, are shown to depend on the pulse polarization. (C) 2001 American Ins titute of Physics.