LASER-LIGHT SCATTERING FROM FLUCTUATIONS ENHANCED BY STIMULATED RAMAN-SCATTERING

Numerical analysis of the system of Zakharov and electromagnetic wave equations shows that in the nonlinear stage of saturation of stimulated Raman backscattering a wide spectrum of plasma fluctuations is excited. These fluctuations manifest themselves in enhanced levels of Brillouin and forward Raman scattering. The coupling between stimulated Raman scattering and these secondary scattering processes is theoretically described. We derive new scaling laws for enhanced Brillouin and forward Raman scattering, which can be tested in the current laser-plasma interaction experiments.