Preformed transient gas channels for laser wakefield particle acceleration

Conference · Tue Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.49613· OSTI ID:10193967

Wood, W M

Acceleration of electrons by laser-driven plasma wake fields is limited by the range over which a laser pulse can maintain its intensity. This distance is typically given by the Rayleigh range for the focused laser beam, usually on the order of 0.1 mm to 1 mm. For practical particle acceleration, interaction distances on the order of centimeters are required. Therefore, some means of guiding high intensity laser pulses is necessary. Light intensities on the order of a few times 10{sup 17} W/cm{sup 2} are required for laser wakefield acceleration schemes using near IR radiation. Gas densities on the order of or greater than 10{sup 17} cm{sup {minus}3} are also needed. Laser-atom interaction studies in this density and intensity regime are generally limited by the concomitant problems in beam propagation introduced by the creation of a plasma. In addition to the interaction distance limit imposed by the Rayleigh range, defocusing of the high intensity laser pulse further limits the peak intensity which can be achieved. To solve the problem of beam propagation limitations in laser-plasma wakefield experiments, two potential methods for creating transient propagation channels in gaseous targets are investigated. The first involves creation of a charge-neutral channel in a gas by an initial laser pulse, which then is ionized by a second, ultrashort, high-intensity pulse to create a waveguide. The second method involves the ionization of a gas column by an ultrashort pulse; a transient waveguide is formed by the subsequent expansion of the heated plasma into the neutral gas.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Lab., NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• OSTI ID: 10193967
• Report Number(s): LA-UR--94-3462; CONF-941062--2; CONF-9411120--1; ON: DE95002707
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
430100
ACCELERATION
DESIGN
DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND OPERATION
DISSOCIATION
ELECTRONS
LASER RADIATION
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA WAVES
SPECIFICATIONS
WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS