Plasma wakes driven by photon bursts via Compton scattering

Abstract: Photon bursts with a wavelength smaller than the plasma inter-particle distance can drive plasma wakes via Compton scattering. We investigate this fundamental process analytically and numerically for different photon frequencies, photon flux, and plasma magnetization. Our results show that Langmuir and extraordinary modes are driven efficiently when the photon energy density lies above a certain threshold. The interaction of photon bursts with magnetized plasmas is of distinguished interest as the generated extraordinary modes can convert into pure electromagnetic waves at the plasma/vacuum boundary. This could possibly be a mechanism for the generation of radio waves in astrophysical scenarios in the presence of intense sources of high energy photons.