Generation of ultrashort electron bunches by colliding laser pulses
- Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
- Center for Beam Physics, Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
A proposed laser-plasma-based relativistic electron source [E. Esarey {ital et al}., Phys. Rev. Lett. {bold 79}, 2682 (1997)] using laser-triggered injection of electrons is investigated. The source generates ultrashort electron bunches by dephasing and trapping background plasma electrons undergoing fluid oscillations in an excited plasma wake. The plasma electrons are dephased by colliding two counterpropagating laser pulses which generate a slow phase velocity beat wave. Laser pulse intensity thresholds for trapping and the optimal wake phase for injection are calculated. Numerical simulations of test particles, with prescribed plasma and laser fields, are used to verify analytic predictions and to study the longitudinal and transverse dynamics of the trapped plasma electrons. Simulations indicate that the colliding laser pulse injection scheme has the capability to produce relativistic femtosecond electron bunches with fractional energy spread of order a few percent and normalized transverse emittance less than 1 mm mrad using 1 TW injection laser pulses. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
- OSTI ID:
- 338697
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics, Vol. 59, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: May 1999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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