Backward Raman amplification (BRA) in plasmas holds the potential for
longitudinal compression and focusing of powerful x-ray pulses. In
principle, this method is capable of producing attosecond pulses of
intensities close to the vacuum breakdown threshold by manipulating the
output of planned x-ray sources. The minimum wavelength limit of BRA
applicability to compression of laser pulses in plasmas is found.
The talk uses results obtained in collaboration with N. J. Fisch
(Princeton University) and J. S. Wurtele (Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory & Physics Department, University of California, Berkeley,
California 94720). This work was supported by the NNSA under the SSAA
Program through DOE Research Grant No. DE-FG52-04NA00139 and the DOE
Office of High Energy Physics through Grant DE-FG02-04ER41289.
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