First Observation of Ion Acoustic Waves Produced by the Langmuir Decay Instability

S. Depierreux; J. Fuchs; C. Labaune; A. Michard; H. A. Baldis; D. Pesme; S. Hüller; G. Laval

doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.2869

First Observation of Ion Acoustic Waves Produced by the Langmuir Decay Instability

S. Depierreux, J. Fuchs, C. Labaune, A. Michard, H. A. Baldis, D. Pesme, S. Hüller, and G. Laval

Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 2869 – Published 27 March 2000

Abstract

Thomson scattering measurements are presented which demonstrate conclusively the occurrence of the Langmuir decay instability (LDI) in a laser-produced plasma experiment. Both products of the instability, the ion acoustic wave and the electron plasma wave, were simultaneously observed and identified with their spectral characteristics. The secondary decay of the LDI-generated electron plasma wave, into another Langmuir wave and an ion acoustic wave, has been observed for the first time. The connection with growth and saturation of the stimulated Raman instability is discussed.

Received 22 July 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.84.2869

Authors & Affiliations

S. Depierreux¹, J. Fuchs¹, C. Labaune¹, A. Michard¹, H. A. Baldis², D. Pesme³, S. Hüller³, and G. Laval³

¹Laboratoire pour l'Utilisation des Lasers Intenses, UMR 7605 CNRS-École Polytechnique-CEA-Université Paris VI, École Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex, France
²Institute for Laser Science and Applications (ILSA), Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O.B. 808, Livermore, California 94550
³Centre de Physique Théorique, UMR 7644 CNRS-École Polytechnique, École Polytechnique, 91128 Palaiseau Cedex, France