Front-to-end simulations of the design of a laser wakefield accelerator with external injection
- Centre for Plasma Physics and Radiation Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven (Netherlands)
We report the design of a laser wakefield accelerator (LWA) with external injection by a rf photogun and acceleration by a linear wakefield in a capillary discharge channel. The design process is complex due to the large number of intricately coupled free parameters. To alleviate this problem, we performed front-to-end simulations of the complete system. The tool we used was the general particle-tracking code, extended with a module representing the linear wakefield by a two-dimensional traveling wave with appropriate wavelength and amplitude. Given the limitations of existing technology for the longest discharge plasma wavelength ({approx}50 {mu}m) and shortest electron bunch length ({approx}100 {mu}m), we studied the regime in which the wakefield acts as slicer and buncher, while rejecting a large fraction of the injected bunch. The optimized parameters for the injected bunch are 10 pC, 300 fs at 6.7 MeV, to be injected into a 70 mm long channel at a plasma density of 7x10{sup 23} m{sup -3}. A linear wakefield is generated by a 2 TW laser focused to 30 {mu}m. The simulations predict an accelerated output of 0.6 pC, 10 fs bunches at 90 MeV, with energy spread below 10%. The design is currently being implemented. The design process also led to an important conclusion: output specifications directly comparable to those reported recently from 'laser-into-gas jet' experiments are feasible, provided the performance of the rf photogun is considerably enhanced. The paper outlines a photogun design providing such a performance level.
- OSTI ID:
- 20795842
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 99, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2195382; (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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