Weibel instability of relativistic electron flows in a laser produced plasma

The strong flows of relativistic electrons, encountered in high power short pulse laser plasma interaction, have the potential to drive Weibel instability producing short wavelength magnetic fields. The presence of a Langmuir wave couples the Weibel instability to two electrostatic wave sidebands. The density perturbations due to the sidebands couple with the oscillatory electron velocity due to the pump to produce a current that enhances the growth rate of Weibel instability. The thermal spread of the energetic (drifting) electrons, however, reduces the growth rate.