Ion Response to Relativistic Electron Bunches in the Blowout Regime of Laser-Plasma Accelerators

Journal Article · Fri Nov 05 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PHYSREVLETT.105.195002· OSTI ID:21541679

Popov, K I; Rozmus, W; Naseri, N ^[1]; Bychenkov, V Yu ^[1]; Capjack, C E ^[2]; Brantov, A V ^[3]

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1. Theoretical Physics Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2J1, Alberta (Canada)
2. Department of Electrical Computer, Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton T6G 2J1, Alberta (Canada)
3. P. N. Lebedev Physics Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119991 (Russian Federation)

The ion response to relativistic electron bunches in the so called bubble or blowout regime of a laser-plasma accelerator is discussed. In response to the strong fields of the accelerated electrons the ions form a central filament along the laser axis that can be compressed to densities 2 orders of magnitude higher than the initial particle density. A theory of the filament formation and a model of ion self-compression are proposed. It is also shown that in the case of a sharp rear plasma-vacuum interface the ions can be accelerated by a combination of three basic mechanisms. The long time ion evolution that results from the strong electrostatic fields of an electron bunch provides a unique diagnostic of laser-plasma accelerators.

• OSTI ID: 21541679
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Vol. 105, Issue 19; Other Information: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.105.195002; (c) 2010 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0031-9007
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS
ACCELERATORS
BEAM BUNCHING
BLOWOUTS
DENSITY
ELECTRON BEAMS
FILAMENTS
INTERFACES
IONS
LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA
PARTICLES
PLASMA GUNS
RELATIVISTIC RANGE
ACCIDENTS
BEAM DYNAMICS
BEAMS
CHARGED PARTICLES
DYNAMICS
ENERGY RANGE
LEPTON BEAMS
MECHANICS
PARTICLE BEAMS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLASMA