Light and Plasma

An introduction to the science and applications of laser-plasma interactions. The first part of the course will discuss the fundamental concepts and analytic, computational, and experimental tools for understanding the linear and nonlinear propagation of light in plasma, including dispersion relations, ionization and absorption mechanisms, stimulated scattering and light-driven waves, and relativistic optics. The second part of the course will use these tools to understand a variety of existing and under-development applications of laser-plasma interactions and high-power beams, including EUV lithography, laser diagnostics, directed energy, laser-wakefield accelerators, laboratory astrophysics, and inertial confinement fusion.Previous coursework in plasma physics, optics, or electromagnetism, or discussion with the instructor, is recommended.