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1990 Phys. Scr. 1990 122

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 Physica Scripta. Vol. T30, 122-126, 1990.
A Beat Wave Experiment in an Open Resonator
G. Di Massal, R. Fedele2, G. Miano3 and C. Nappi4
‘Dipartimento Elettrico, Universita’ della Calabria, Cosenza, Italy; * Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, Universita’ di Napoli, Napoli. Italy;
’Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica, Universita’ di Napoli, Napoli, Italy; 41stit~todi Cibernetica del CNR, Arco Felice, Napoli, Italy
Received May 22, 1989
Abstract marize the conclusions. In Section 2 we use the CGS system,
In the beat wave experiment, scaled at microwave, an open resonator, while in the Section 3 the MKSA system is used.
matched to microwave sources, is used to achieve a high field intensity with
reasonable input electromagnetic power. Scaling to microwave could be an
important step in building up an experiment capable to point out easily and
at minor cost the physical problems of the plasma beat wave scheme.
In this paper, by taking into account the plasma oscillation dynamics as
well as the electromagnetic field dynamics inside the cavity coupled with the
microwave sources, a new optimal set of parameters and new scaling laws
have been found.
1. Introduction
The plasma beat wave (PBW) resonant mechanism has
become in recent years a very popular concept and has been
proposed as a powerful mean to produce very high electric
fields. The original principle of the PBW scheme [l] was based
on the possibility to transform the high transverse electric
field associated with an intense laser beam into a high longi-
tudinal plasma wave electric field.
Two electromagnetic waves with frequency and wave-
number, (a1,k , ) and (w2, k 2 ) , respectively, couple together
inside an underdense plasma and create a ponderomotive
force with frequency os = w , - w2. If the beating frequency
osis equal to the plasma frequency wp = (4~ce~n,/m,)”* the
plasma wave amplitude grows linearly in time (no is the
initial plasma density, e and m, are the electron charge and
electron mass at rest respectively). The longitudinal electric
field arising from these plasma waves may achieve high values
(for example by using laser pumps we may achieve 1 GVjcm).
On the other hand nonlinear frequency shifts due to rela-
tivistic electron mass variation [ 11 and other nonlinear three
dimensional effects [2] drive the system off resonance. Future
developments require certainly a detailed experimental study
of all these problems inherent to the PBW scheme.
Since the basic physics behind the PBW scheme does not
depend on pump frequency, a scaled experiment in the micro-
wave regime have been proposed as an important step in
building up an experiment capable to evidence easily and at
minor cost the physical problems that alter the original
simplicity of the PBW scheme. An open resonator matched to
the microwave sources may be used to achieve an high field
intensity with reasonable input electromagnetic power [3, 41.
In the next section we review the PBW excitation in micro-
wave regime in a open resonator. By taking into account both
the diffraction and the ohmic losses, a complete analysis of
the modes in an open resonator is presented in Section 3. The
coupling between the external microwave sources and the
cavity is considered as well. In Section 4 we find a new
optimal set of parameters and new scaling- laws and we Dro-
pose an experimental setup. Finally, in Section 5 we sum-
Physica Scripta T30
2. PBW excitation in microwave regime
The excitation of large amplitude plasma wave in a plasma
filled open resonator in microwave regime has been extensively
described in Refs. [3, 41; we refer to these papers for more
details.
Referring to the schematic Fig. 1, we have an open
resonator [5, 61 made by two spherical metallic mirrors with
radius R,, separated by a length 21. The frame origin is taken
in the center of the cavity. The space between the mirrors is
filled with an underdense plasma. The cavity is fed by two
electromagnetic waves at near frequencies: a, o2 and
wI , w2 B a,. The multiple reflections in the cavity produces
an increasing high frequency wave amplitude at of
+
( U , + w 2 ) / 2 , kf = ( k , k2)/2 modulated by a low fre-
quency envelope at 0,/2, ks/2 ( k , - k J 2 . Only the
fundamental mode in the open resonator is considered.
The time evolution of the pump electric field amplitude in
the center of the cavity ( r = 0, z = 0), is given by
E([) = E, (1 - e-‘’‘r), (1)
where E, is the maximum achieved field intensity and T , the
time required to fill the cavity and the field to saturate. Both
Eo and z, increase as well as the “quality factor” Q of the
resonator.
We stress here that in this scheme, as the amplitude of the
beat increases in the cavity, the ponderomotive force, asso-
ciated with the modulating envelope, acts on a time scale l/w,
inducing radial as well as longitudinal plasma oscillations.
Therefore, if w, = wp, the amplitude of the beat wave and of
the excited plasma wave increase together during the tran-
sient T,.
In the linear fluid theory and in the cold plasma approxi-
mation the evolution of the plasma field E, = rEpr zE,,, +
excited by the beat field E, is described by the equation
where FNL is the ponderomotive force
e’
grad ( E . E ) ; (3)
mocwc
the brackets denote an average over the fast time scale I/o,.
The resonant solution of eq. ( 2 ) (w, = up)is
Ep,(r, z , t ) = +viqi(r, z ) g ( t ) sin (wpt), (4)
 A Beat Wave Experiment in an Open Resonator 123

space-varying amplitude inside the cavity is:

E = 1 Ken,
n
(9)

A = 1 Inh,,
n
(10)

where en = $,(x,Y, ~1.9,hn = - (1/5o>$,(x, Y , z)f, and $

,
are an orthonormal set of eigenfunctions
I - P
2L

Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of an axisymmetric open resonator coupled by a

*mp = & J( 2
n2Pi""!p!) Hm (4 &) Hp (d5 &)
rectangular waveguide to the sources through the aperture (A) in one of the
two mirrors. x exp[-
x2
--
+ y2 .71 x2 + y2
d(Z) J.R(z)

where
2
+ j ( m + p + 1) tg (91.
g(t) = [wpi + wp - 22, wp (1 - +e ( 5 ) The quantity w(z) is given by

and vo = eEo/m,coJ,; q: and qi in the waist are given by the

approximate expressions
w2(z) = W;
( + 2,),
1 7 (12)

which is a measure of decrease of the field amplitude with the

m, c2 24dO
eq:(r, z) r -r e distance r from the axis (beam waist), R(z) is given by
~

-
IC,'

{cos [ ( k , + k2)zI - cos [@I - k2)ZI), R(z) = z[1 + (271, (13)

eq:(r, z) E - -
m,
4
c2 e -2r2:1,; (1 +$) (6)
which is the radius of curvature of the wavefront that inter-
sects the axis at z, H,(x)is the Hermite polynomial of order
x Wi + k , ) sin [(k, + k2)ZI m
- ( k , - k2) sin [(k, - k,)zI), ZR = nN'i/A (14)
where w, is the waist radius and zR is the Rayleigh length is the Raylei& distance, p = is the free space pro-
given by zR z w,2(kl + k2)/4(see Section 3). pagation constant and 5, is the free space electromagnetic
The longitudinal field amplitude (normalized to the impedance.
Dawson's field limit ED = 4nen0/kp)on the axis ofthe cavity Using the Maxwell equation [5] we find for the coefficients
E~~~~~ is given by V,, I, in eqs. (9) and (10)

(7) In = --
jwE0
P' - k,Z 21 & )
[j( E x h,*) * ii ds,
while the radial field on the axis of the cavity is zero. The
longitudinal field amplitude takes its maximum at r = y, = ~- kn [{ ( E x h,*) - r i ds,
v/0.5Wo[(nW'o/A)2 - 1]"2. P' - k,Z 21 ti") &

When the electron motion becomes relativistic, the resonant

condition w, = copcannot be fulfilled anymore because of the where kn = o n / C is the Propagation constant of the nth mode
relativistic mass variation, so the plasma wave amplitude and (s,) is the whole transverse plane. The characteristic
saturates. Thus the quasi-linear growth described by eq. (7) is frequency Onis given by
valid until the saturation time T ~ which
, is given by [3]
U, = (nc/21)[(q + 1) + (m + p + 1)
x arccos (1 - 21/R0)],
where R,,is the curvature radius of the mirrors, 21 is the length
+ +(x - 5) e-2x + 2(1 - 2x) e-.', (8) of the resonator and q is an integer number (longitudinal
where x = T ~ / T and
, f = 500/(v4wfopr,3). mode number); wn is the resonance frequency of the cavity
namely the frequency values for which the tangential com-
ponent of the E field is zero on the cavity mirrors.
3. The open cavity A rectangular, metallic waveguide (with transverse dimen-
The cavity described in this paper is made up by two metal sion a x b) is considered to feed the cavity. The waveguide
mirrors, one of which is coupled to a generator by a rectan- fields on the aperture (A) are represented as:
gular waveguide. We assume a linearly polarized electro- Eg = V,,ge:,
magnetic field inside the cavity and in the waveguide at n
frequency w (= i 2nc/w). AB = I:h:,
In the frequency domain the electromagnetic field slowly n

Physica Scripta T30

124 G. Di Massa, R. Fedele, G. Miano and C. Nappi

where ef; and hf; are the orthonormal electromagnetic modes we have
of the metallic rectangular waveguide. The coupling of eqs.
(17) and (18) with eqs. (9) and (10) when we impose the
continuity for tangential component of the magnetic field on
the coupling aperture (A). gives

Expression (25) used in system (19) solves completely the

problem of the coupling between the waveguide and the open
cavity.

(19)
4. Experimental setup and parameters
where
So far we have described the general behavior of an open
PnF = \jh; h f ds = x , * ~ , resonator excited by two microwaves of nearly equal fre-
(A) quency w , z 0 2 filled
, with a plasma of subcritical density,
b,, is the Kronecher symbol and Z , is the mth mode wave- no = 1011-10’2cm-3.In this section the main characteristics
guide characteristic impedance. With (-),“+and ( -):- we indi- of the experimental apparatus and the main parameter will be
cate the amplitude of the forward and backward waves in the described, assuming only the fundamental mode in the open
waveguide, respectively. We have assumed only the funda- resonator.
mental mode for the forward wave. We consider a plasma with no = 1012cm-3as a ref-
The quality factor Q, of the cavity for the nth mode is erence case. In fact a fully ionized plasma with a density
defined as of the order of 10’2cm-3can be obtained in a large volume
by using helicon waves [7, 81. For no = l O ’ * ~ mwe - ~ obtain
wp = 62.8 x 10l2 (radis), (f, = 10GHz). Then requiring
for the “transparency condition” wI = w2 z loo,, we
where W, is the stored electromagnetic energy in the cavity obtain for the pump frequencies o1z w2 z 5 x 10l2
and P, is the power loss at the resonance frequency u , ~The
. (radis) (f;z f 2 z l00GHz). Then we assume a reference
power loss is mainly due to diffraction and ohmic losses. We case fi = 110 GHz and f 2 = 120 GHz ( h = wf/27c =
analyze here the two contributions to the Qn value. From 115GHz).
expression (1 5) we have We know from the electromagnetic theory that the
waist transverse dimension cannot be less than the radiation
wavelength. Then in our case we assume as a reference
case wo = 2 4 = 5.2”. In this experiment we need a
thin (well collimed) envelope in such a way to achieve
+ T>D/Z
( E x h,*)*ii ds .
I
When we compute eq. (21) near the resonance frequencies by
(21)
high electromagnetic field intensity with reasonable input
electromagnetic power. The Rayleigh length in this case is
65.3 mni.
So we have fixed the plasma density, the plasma frequency,
using the Leontovic approximation for the electromagnetic the pump electromagnetic frequencies, the waist radius and
fields on the mirrors, we obtain the Rayleigh length. The free parameters are: the input elec-
tromagnetic pump power in the cavity, the cavity length and
hnI2ds the cavity quality factor Q. In the following we discuss how
to determine these parameters in order to achieve a high
amplitude plasma wave.
Let us start with an important consideration on some
characteristic time scales of the experiment: the plasma wave
where B is electrical conductibility of the mirrors and S is saturation time z, and the cavity filling time z,. The round trip
penetration depth of the field in the mirrors. We can write the time T,, = 41/c, namely the time occurring for a wave to
integrals in eq. (22) as a function of the quality factor for make a complete trip between the two mirrors, is related to
ohmic losses Qr and for diffraction losses Qd the cavity saturation time z, by the relation zr = T,,/a,where
a represents the loss rate per round trip time in the cavity. The
z parameter and the quality factor Q are related by the
relation: Q = ( q + I)TC/CIwhere q is the longitudinal mode
number which is given by the resonant condition (q + 1) 2
4!fJc.
By using eq. (21), eq. (22) becomes In order that the cavity is “efficient” we must require
z, 9 TI, and ( l / x ) 9 1. Typically we can achieve I / % =

zs -
10-100, then the constraint T~ $ T,, may be equivalent to
7 , . The saturation time 5, is given by the nonlinear

Expression (23) is valid for I /? 1 - knwhile in the general case

equation (8).
Assuming as reference input power in the cavity P* = 50 kW.

Physica Scripta T30

 A Beat Wave Experiment in an Open Resonator 125

while from eq. (27) we obtain for the demi-distance between

the two mirrors I

I = 1.7 x lo3 [cm] ~

In Figs. 2(a) and (b) we have drawn l/[f(x)]'" and g(x)/

[f(x)]" in the range 0.5 < x < 5 . Analytically we have
obtained that, when x + E , g(x)/[f(x)]' + 3' and
llf(x) + 0. When x + 0, llf(x) and g ( x ) / [ f ( x ) ] ' diverge.
Note that g ( x ) / [ f ( x ) ] 'has an absolute minimum very near
X
to the zero.
With SI = 1/30, j? = 1 ( P = 50 kW) x = 1.75 we obtain
1 = 12cm, E,,,, = lOOkV/cm, T,, = 1 . 6 z, ~ = 48ns and
z, = 8411s. On the other hand with p = lo-' ( P = 0.5 kW)
we obtain 1 = 50cm, E,,,, = 25 kV/cm, T,, = 6 . 7 T~, =
20011s and z2 = 1 ,us. In both cases the quality factor Q for
considered mode (0,0, 175) is about 17 120. In the first case
the plasma wave amplitude increases and saturates after 840
plasma waves periods, while in the second case it saturates
after lo4plasma wave periods. If we assume an argon plasma,
the ion characteristic time is about 200 times the plasma wave
period so in both cases we cannot neglect the effects due to
ion motion. However. in the second case we cannot neglect
the collisional damping effects (typically we can have a colli-
sion frequency between electrons times the plasma fre-
quency). Then another relevant parameter is the number of
plasma oscillations during the saturation time zsfp. This
quantity may be obtained from eq. (25)

'
In Fig. 2(c) we have drawn xif(x)' versus .Y in the range
0.5 < x < 5. When x + x ,we have x / f ( x ) ' " + 3" while
for x -+ 0, xif(x)I diverges. Then in order to reduce 7 f we
S.
must reduce x or/and we must increase (pi%);this implies to
reduce the length I unless we keep %/pconstant and increase
SI, but SI cannot be greater then 0.1, otherwise the "efficiency"
of the cavity is too low.
If now we introduce the quantity 0, w,/w,,* and POE
i v o / w ~with opO= 62.8 x 10l2 (radis) and wz = 5.2mm,
assuming the transparency condition to be valid as usual
w , 2 low,, we obtain

E,,,, = 25 [kV/cm]

Fig. 2. (a) l/f(sj. (bjg(.xj/[f(.u)]' ' and (c) .x/[f(s)]' 'plotted against x in the
range 0.5 < .Y < 5 . ~~f~
= 22 667
[f(-41'
(Y)i
',
6 2 E2 SI
(33)

for the above values of n o , wf, and ivo, we obtain

I = 1.7 x 10' [cm] x (SI g 3 (34)
[f(x)/@,I"'
= 1.17 x (26)
Table I. Amplitude of the first three modes in the cavity and of
f(x) = 1.12 x [s-3] -,
SI5 the first three backward modes in the waveguide for v,P' = 1.
(27)
T,:P2
V,P- = 0.293 V, = 1.35
E,,,, = 1.12 x 1010 %
[ ~ s / c m ] g(x),
SI- (28)
V , - = 0.0274
&g- = 0.001 17
V,
V,
=
=
0.546 x
0.281 x

where P P/P*. By using eqs. (27) and (28) we obtain for These quantities are measured in volt.

PhJ,sica Scripiu T30

126 G. Di Massa, R. Fedele, G . Miano and C. Nappi

solution of the system (19) gives the results shown in Table I.

We note that only the first mode is propagating in the
waveguide, the other two are decaying or evanescent. In
Fig. 3 the amplitude of the first three modes as function of
radial distance r (cm) is plotted. The amplitude is normalized
to 1 watt as input power in the waveguide.
To have the resonant cavity filled with plasma we propose
the following scheme, see Fig. 4. The open cavity is put at the
center of a plasma chamber whose dimensions are larger than
the cavity.
We require a plasma with density no = 1012cm-3,
quiescent on the time scale of the order of ion motion,
uniform in a cylindrical region with dimension of 2cm in
diameter and 15cm in length. The density must be main-
tained in steady state or must be reproducible in short pulses
to within a few percent. A fully ionized plasma with these
requirements may be produced by using low frequency heli-
con waves in a magnetized plasma [7,8]. Fully ionized plasma
in the 10"-1012cm-3 range may be obtained by using only
1 kW R F power source and 1 kG dc-magnetic field. This
unusually high efficiency may be explained in terms of
Landau damping. Helicon are low frequency whistler waves.
Because of the low frequency the longitudinal phase velocity
of the wave can be made low enough to match the thermal
velocity of the electrons, thus giving rise to efficient transfer
of energy from the wave to the body via Landau damping.
L.I. I..

5. Conclusions
bl
In this paper we have reviewed the beat wave experiment
Fig. 3. The amplitude of the first three modes (V) as a function of the radial
scaled at microwaves in an open resonator.
distance r (m) in the center of the cavity ( r = 0, z = 0) is reported for 1 watt
The coupling between the cavity and the microwave
input electromagnetic power. (a) (0, 0, 175) mode and (b) (0, 1, 175) and
(1, 0, 175) modes. sources in an underdense plasma has been treated in a self
consistent way.
New scaling laws with respect to our previous works have
As a result of the previous calculations we consider been identified as leading to a better choice of the main
an open resonator with a distance between the mirrors parameters: the input power, the demi-distance between the
21 = 24cm, a mirror curvature radius R = 12.8cm and a two mirrors and the quality factor Q for fixed plasma density
mirror diameter D = 5.8 cm. The dimensions of the rectan- (or plasma frequency).
gular waveguide are 0.136 x 0.07 cm. The mode (0, 0, 175) in A field of 100 kV/cm may be obtained with 50 kW input
the cavity has a resonant frequency equal to 110.58 GHz power, with pump frequencies of the order of 100 GHz, with
which is also the frequency of the first mode propagating in a demi-distance of 12cm and with a quality factor Q = 17 220.
the waveguide. The value of the quality factor Q for this first In this case the plasma wave amplitude saturates in 84 ns (840
mode is 17 120. The modes (0, 1, 175) and (1, 0, 175) are plasma wave periods). With 0.5 kW we may obtain an electric
degeneres with a resonant frequency equal to 1 1 1.049 GHz field of 10 kV/cm, but the required time is about 1 ps (lo4
and Q = 3397. By taking into account these three modes in times the plasma wave periods). However a more careful
the cavity and in the waveguide and assuming bg' = 1 , the analysis should take into account ion motion as well as
collisional damping, because of the long scale time of the
microwave
plasma wave building up.
plasma chamber
References
1. Rosenbluth, M. N. and Liu, C. S., Phys. Rev. Lett. 29, 701 (1972).
2. Miano, G.: See in this issue.
3. de Angelis, U,, Fedele, R., Miano, G. and Nappi, C., Plasma Physics
and Controlled Fusion 29, 789 (1987).
4. de Angelis, U,: De Menna, L., Fedele, R., Miano, G., Nappi, C. and
Vaccaro, V. G., IEEE Trans. on Plasma Science PS-15, 179 (1987).
5. Vaynshteyn, L. A., Theory of Diffraction and Factorization Method.
Golem Press, Boulder (1969).
6. Di Massa, G., Cuomo, D., Cutolo, A. and Delle Cave, G., IEE Procs.
136-Pt.H, 159 (1989).
El
7. Boswell, R. W., Plasma Phys. and Controlled Fusion 26, 1147 (1984).
Fig. 4 . Schematic view of the experimental apparatus 8. Chen. F. F.. Laser and particle beams (to be published).

Physics Scripta T30