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Title: The effect of the vacuum-plasma transition and an injection angle on electron-bunch injection into a laser wakefield

Abstract

External injection of an electron bunch in the laser wakefield can result in femtosecond accelerated bunches with relatively low energy spread. In this paper it is shown that the density transition from vacuum to plasma can play an important role in the trapping process. The plasma wavelength in this transition region changes continuously, which means that the injected electrons see an altering wakefield. This can result in strong defocusing of the injected bunch. It is found that the effect becomes stronger for stronger wakefields, longer transition lengths, and lower injection energies. The transition region can be avoided if the bunch is injected into the wakefield at an angle. Injecting the bunch at an angle allows the bunch to be wider and results in more charge being trapped. The dynamics of the bunch in this case are similar to the dynamics of a bunch injected in front of the laser pulse.

Authors:
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Faculty of Science and Technology and MESA Institute, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede (Netherlands)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21072648
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 14; Journal Issue: 8; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.2759885; (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; BEAM BUNCHING; BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS; ELECTRON BEAMS; ELECTRONS; LASERS; PLASMA; PLASMA DENSITY; PULSES; TRAPPING; WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS; WAVELENGTHS

Citation Formats

Luttikhof, M J. H., Khachatryan, A G, Goor, F A. van, and Boller, K -J. The effect of the vacuum-plasma transition and an injection angle on electron-bunch injection into a laser wakefield. United States: N. p., 2007. Web. doi:10.1063/1.2759885.
Luttikhof, M J. H., Khachatryan, A G, Goor, F A. van, & Boller, K -J. The effect of the vacuum-plasma transition and an injection angle on electron-bunch injection into a laser wakefield. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2759885
Luttikhof, M J. H., Khachatryan, A G, Goor, F A. van, and Boller, K -J. 2007. "The effect of the vacuum-plasma transition and an injection angle on electron-bunch injection into a laser wakefield". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.2759885.
@article{osti_21072648,
title = {The effect of the vacuum-plasma transition and an injection angle on electron-bunch injection into a laser wakefield},
author = {Luttikhof, M J. H. and Khachatryan, A G and Goor, F A. van and Boller, K -J},
abstractNote = {External injection of an electron bunch in the laser wakefield can result in femtosecond accelerated bunches with relatively low energy spread. In this paper it is shown that the density transition from vacuum to plasma can play an important role in the trapping process. The plasma wavelength in this transition region changes continuously, which means that the injected electrons see an altering wakefield. This can result in strong defocusing of the injected bunch. It is found that the effect becomes stronger for stronger wakefields, longer transition lengths, and lower injection energies. The transition region can be avoided if the bunch is injected into the wakefield at an angle. Injecting the bunch at an angle allows the bunch to be wider and results in more charge being trapped. The dynamics of the bunch in this case are similar to the dynamics of a bunch injected in front of the laser pulse.},
doi = {10.1063/1.2759885},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21072648}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 8,
volume = 14,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2007},
month = {Wed Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2007}
}