Abstract

The interaction of a short-pulse laser with plasma^[1],[2], where the pulse length is short compared to the plasma length and the Rayleigh length, drives stimulated Brillouin backscatter (SBS) in a qualitatively different manner than when the pulse length is long compared to the plasma length ^[3]. In the latter case it is well-known that if the damping rate is less than the absolute growth rate, the instability is absolutely unstable. In the former case, SBS is not absolutely unstable even in the absence of damping.

© 1994 Optical Society of America