The effect of bandwidth on the convective Raman instability in inhomogeneous plasmas

The effect of bandwidth on the convective amplification of the Raman instability in the underdense, inhomogeneous plasma is investigated. For the case when the homogeneous growth rate γ0≪Δω, where Δω is the bandwidth, it is shown both analytically and numerically that there is no effect of bandwidth on the convective amplification. The reduction in the homogeneous growth rate due to the bandwidth is compensated for by an increase in the interaction region such that the convective amplification is unaffected. For γ0≳Δω there is a statistical enhancement in the amplification factor.