Enhanced Raman scattering of a Gaussian laser beam from a plasma

Enhanced Raman back scattering of a high power Gaussian laser beam from a plasma wave is investigated in a collisionless plasma. The laser beam exerts a ponderomotive force on the electrons and produces a modification in the background density of the plasma. Consequently the incident laser beam, the plasma wave and the back scattered radiation undergo periodic focusing if appropriate conditions are satisfied. Numerical results show that focusing of the waves greatly enhances the back scattered power. (author)