Stimulated Raman scattering of a laser beam in a plasma with azimuthal magnetic field

A strong azimuthal magnetic field localizes the lower hybrid waves radially in laser produced plasmas. The laser pump parametrically excites a lower hybrid wave and a backscattered electromagnetic sideband wave. The density perturbation due to the lower hybrid wave couples with the oscillatory velocity of electrons due to the pump wave, to produce a nonlinear current driving the sideband. The pump and sideband waves exert a ponderomotive force on electrons driving the lower hybrid wave. The local effects reduce the growth rate of stimulated Raman scattering. The fundamental radial eigenmode (p=0) of the lower hybrid wave is the maximally growing mode. The scattering process can be used as a diagnostic for the azimuthal magnetic field