Localization of high-power laser pulses in plasmas

This paper considers the nonlinear propagation of an intense laser pulse in plasmas. The equation for the wave envelope is derived accounting for the nonlinearities originating from the electron-mass variation as well as the self-interaction of the laser field. It is shown that the wave equation and the equations governing the slow plasma response can be represented in terms of the energy integral of a classical particle. The analysis of the potential reveals the existence of the localized solutions. The criteria for the latter to occur are obtained. A small-amplitude limit is also discussed