Fig. 3: Spatial distributions of electrons and lasing ions in the amplifier following the NIR pump pulse.
From: Nonlinear ionization dynamics of hot dense plasma observed in a laser-plasma amplifier
a Electron density profile in the plasma waveguide after propagation of the pump pulse to z = 1200 µm. b Lasing ion (Kr8+) abundance in the laser-plasma amplifier as a percentage of the neutral density after complete propagation through the channel. The lasing ion is depleted at Z = 1000 µm at the radial centre due to overionization. Thus, the electron density profile shows a corresponding peak in this region. Furthermore, b shows a groove of decreased ion abundance for r = 0 µm, resulting in an attenuated amplification, explaining the dip in intensity observed in the experiment (Fig. 2)
