Vacuum electron acceleration by an intense laser

Journal Article · Fri Jan 12 00:00:00 EST 2001 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1359486· OSTI ID:782531

Wang, P X; Ho, Y K; Yuan, X Q; Kong, Q; Sessler, A M; Esarey, E; Nishida, Y

Using 3D test particle simulations, the characteristics and essential conditions under which an electron, in a vacuum laser beam, can undergo a capture and acceleration scenario (CAS). When a{sub 0} {approx}> 100 the electron can be captured and violently accelerated to energies {approx}> 1 GeV, with an acceleration gradient {approx}> 10 GeV/cm, where a{sub 0} = eE{sub 0}/m{sub e}{omega}c is the normalized laser field amplitude. The physical mechanism behind the CAS is that diffraction of the focused laser beam leads to a slowing down of the effective wave phase velocity along the captured electron trajectory, such that the electron can be trapped in the acceleration phase of the wave for a longer time and thus gain significant energy from the field.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Director, Office of Science. Office of High Energy and Nuclear Physics. Division of High Energy Physics (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 782531
• Report Number(s): LBNL-47634; CBP Note-377; APPLAB; R&D Project: 455301; TRN: US0200293
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 78, Issue 15; Other Information: Journal Publication Date: Apr. 9, 2001; PBD: 12 Jan 2001; ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
ELECTRON BEAMS
ACCELERATION
LASERS
PHASE VELOCITY
SLOWING-DOWN
CAPTURE
LASER RADIATION
SIMULATION
INTENSE LASER ELECTRON ACCELERATION