Laser wakefield excitation and measurement by femtosecond longitudinal interferometry
- Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Dept. of Physics
- Inst. of Applied Physics, Nizhny Novgorod (Russian Federation)
Plasma density oscillations (Langmuir waves) in the wake of an intense (I{sub peak} {approximately} 3 {times} 10{sup 17}W/cm{sup 2}) laser pulse (100 fs) are measured with ultrafast time resolution using a longitudinal interferometric technique. Phase shifts consistent with large amplitude ({delta}n{sub e}/n{sub e} {approximately} 1) density waves at the electron plasma frequency were observed in a fully tunnel-ionized He plasma, corresponding to longitudinal electric fields of {approximately} 10 GV/m. Strong radial ponderomotive forces enhance the density oscillations. As this technique utilizes a necessary component of any laser-based plasma accelerator, it promises to be a powerful tool for on-line monitoring and control of future plasma-based particle accelerators.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Texas, Austin, TX (United States). Institute for Fusion Studies
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG03-96ER54346
- OSTI ID:
- 238564
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ER/54346-744; IFSR-744; ON: DE96010327; TRN: 96:015060
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: Apr 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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