Nonlinear spectral signatures and spatiotemporal behavior of stimulated raman scattering from single laser speckles

Simulations are reported of the Thomson scatter spectrum of electrostatic waves (ESWs) excited in single laser hot spots by backward stimulated Raman scattering (BSRS). Under conditions similar those in the recent experiments of Kline et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 175003 (2005)], a spectral streak, resulting from the trapping-induced frequency shift of the ESW, is found for high wave-number ESWs, similar to the observations. This shift and parametric frequency matching lead to isolated BSRS pulses. Modes with acoustic dispersion, resulting from the trapping-modified electron velocity distribution, can enhance the frequency range of the streak.