Trapping and acceleration in nonlinear plasma waves

Journal Article · Mon May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871358· OSTI ID:167093

Esarey, E; Pilloff, M ^[1]

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1. Beam Physics Branch, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C. 20375-5346 (United States)

The trapping and acceleration of a test electron in a nonlinear plasma wave is analyzed in one dimension using Hamiltonian dynamics. The plasma wave is described by a nonlinear, cold fluid model. The maximum energy gain and the minimum energy required for trapping of the test electron are determined. The separatrix is plotted for several values of plasma wave amplitude. In the large wave amplitude limit, the maximum energy of a trapped electron scales as 2{gamma}{sup 2}{sub {ital p}}{ital E}{sup 2}{sub {ital z}}, where {gamma}{sub {ital p}} is the relativistic factor associated with plasma wave phase velocity and {ital E}{sub {ital z}} is the electric field amplitude of the nonlinear plasma wave. This is in contrast to the well-known results for a sinusoidal wave, in which the maximum energy scales as 4{gamma}{sup 2}{sub {ital p}}{ital E}{sub {ital z}}. As the nonlinear plasma wave approaches wavebreaking, the maximum energy is given by {gamma}{sub max}{r_arrow}4{gamma}{sup 3}{sub {ital p}}{minus}3{gamma}{sub {ital p}}, where {gamma}{sub max} is the relativistic factor of the trapped electron. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.

• OSTI ID: 167093
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 2; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
BEAT WAVE ACCELERATORS
COLD PLASMA
PLASMA ACCELERATION
PLASMA WAVES
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
TEST PARTICLES
TRAPPED ELECTRONS
WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS