Beat wave injection of electrons into plasma waves using two interfering laser pulses
An electron injector concept that uses a single injection laser pulse colliding with a pump laser pulse in a plasma is analyzed. The pump pulse generates a large amplitude laser wakefield (plasma wave). The counter propagating injection pulse collides with the pump laser pulse to generate a beat wave with a slow phase velocity. The ponderomotive force of the slow beat wave is responsible for injecting plasma electrons into the wakefield near the back of the pump pulse. Test particle simulations indicate that significant amounts of charge can be trapped and accelerated ({approx} 10 pC). For higher charge, beam loading limits the validity of the simulations. The accelerated bunches are ultrashort ({approx} 1 fs) with good beam quality (relative energy spread of a few percent at a mean energy of {approx} 10 MeV and a normalized rms emittance on the order 0.4 mm.mrad). The effects of interaction angle and polarization are also explored, e.g., efficient trapping can occur for near-collinear geometries. Beat wave injection using a single injection pulse has the advantages of simplicity, ease of experimental implementation, and requires modest laser intensity I {approx_equal} 8.8 x 10{sup 17} W/cm{sup 2}.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Director. Office of Science. Office of High Energy and Nuclear Science. Division of High Energy Physics (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC03-76SF00098
- OSTI ID:
- 835426
- Report Number(s):
- LBNL-54706; CBP Note - 541; R&D Project: 455401; TRN: US0500064
- Journal Information:
- Physical Review E, Vol. 7001, Issue 1pt2; Other Information: Submitted to Physical Review E, Volume 7001, No.1, Part 2; Journal Publication Date: 07/2004; PBD: 4 Mar 2004
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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