Enhancement of Laser Injection Methods by Plasma Density Gradients

Journal Article · Tue Dec 07 04:00:00 EST 2004 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1842638· OSTI ID:20655301

Fubiani, G ^[1]; Esarey, E; Schroeder, C B; Leemans, W P ^[1]; Nakamura, K ^[1]

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1. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720 (United States)

Plasma density down-ramps are proposed as a method for improving the performance of laser injection schemes. A decrease in density implies an increase in plasma wavelength, which can shift a relativistic electron from the defocusing to the focusing region of the accelerating wakefield. Also, a decrease in density leads to a decrease in wake phase velocity, which lowers the trapping threshold. The specific method of two-pulse colliding pulse injector was examined using a 3D test particle tracking code. A density down-ramp of 30% led to an order of magnitude enhancement of the trapping fraction compared to the uniform plasma case, without degrading other bunch properties.

• OSTI ID: 20655301
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 737; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
BEAM INJECTION
ELECTRON BEAMS
FOCUSING
LASERS
PERFORMANCE
PHASE VELOCITY
PLASMA
PLASMA DENSITY
PLASMA WAVES
PULSES
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
TEST PARTICLES
TRAPPING
WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS
WAVELENGTHS