Structure, dynamics, and light localization in self-induced plasma photonic lattices

Detailed two-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations and numerical calculations of electron density profiles, based on a simplified model, were performed to show that underdense plasma, induced by two pairs of counterpropagating femtosecond-laser pulses in a gas, could be manipulated by ponderomotive-optical lattices to form periodic structures. These phenomena facilitate the localization and enhancement of the generating laser pulse intensities by the self-induced plasma photonic lattices (PPLs) and exhibit unique spatiotemporal dynamics. Variation of the initial plasma density profile and the configuration of the interacting pulses enabled control over the attainable PPL structures. It is predicted that by using a nonuniform initial plasma density, light emission in a preferred direction could be obtained.