Self-focusing of high power q-Gaussian laser beam in collisional magnetized plasma

The current study investigates self-focusing of q-Gaussian laser beam in collisional magnetized plasma. The plasma electrons get redistributed due to thermal heating resulting in rise in index of refraction of plasma medium. This rise in index of refraction of plasma induces self-focusing effect. The basic self-focusing equation is derived through WKB and paraxial approximations. The numerical solution of this 2nd order ODE is obtained through RK4 method. The influence of change in known laser-plasma parameters including laser intensity, plasma density, cyclotron frequency, radius of beam and ‘q’ parameter on beam width of input wave with dimensionless distance of propagation is also explored.