Measurable signatures of relativistic self-focusing in underdense plasmas

The propagation of intense, picosecond laser pulses in tenuous plasmas is studied for conditions close to those required for relativistic self-focusing. Solutions of the steady-state wave-envelope equations are used to obtain experimentally measurable quantities such as the Thomson-scattered light at 90°, and the far-field radiation pattern. It is demonstrated that in the presence of electron cavitation, the Thomson signal has a longitudinal structure which is generally the converse of the intensity pattern. Furthermore, beam collimation in the far-field depends on where the laser is focused in the plasma, and may actually be degraded if self-channeling occurs.