Polarization-Dependent Self-Injection by Above Threshold Ionization Heating in a Laser Wakefield Accelerator

Ma, Y.; Seipt, D.; Hussein, A.  E.; Hakimi, S.; Beier, N.  F.; Hansen, S.  B.; Hinojosa, J.; Maksimchuk, A.; Nees, J.; Krushelnick, K.; Thomas, A.  G. R.; Dollar, F.

doi:10.1103/physrevlett.124.114801

Polarization-Dependent Self-Injection by Above Threshold Ionization Heating in a Laser Wakefield Accelerator

Journal Article · Mon Mar 16 00:00:00 EDT 2020 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.124.114801· OSTI ID:1787515

^[1]; Seipt, D. ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[2]; Beier, N. F. ^[2]; Hansen, S. B. ^[3]; Hinojosa, J. ^[1]; Maksimchuk, A. ^[1]; Nees, J. ^[1]; Krushelnick, K. ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[2]

Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States)
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Here, we report on the experimental observation of a decreased self-injection threshold by using laser pulses with circular polarization in laser wakefield acceleration experiments in a nonpreformed plasma, compared to the usually employed linear polarization. A significantly higher electron beam charge was also observed for circular polarization compared to linear polarization over a wide range of parameters. Theoretical analysis and quasi-3D particle-in-cell simulations reveal that the self-injection and hence the laser wakefield acceleration is polarization dependent and indicate a different injection mechanism for circularly polarized laser pulses, originating from larger momentum gain by electrons during above threshold ionization. This enables electrons to meet the trapping condition more easily, and the resulting higher plasma temperature was confirmed via spectroscopy of the XUV plasma emission.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: EPSRC; Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Sciences; National Science Foundation (NSF); US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Fusion Energy Sciences (FES)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC04-94AL85000; NA0003525; SC0019186; SC0019255

OSTI ID:: 1787515

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1604865
OSTI ID: 1798138

Report Number(s):: SAND--2019-13455J; SAND--2021-6717J; 681111

Journal Information:: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 124; ISSN 0031-9007

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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