Maximum energy gain in a nonlinear plasma wave

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.48295· OSTI ID:253411

Esarey, E; Pilloff, M ^[1]

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1. Beam Physics Branch, Plasma Physics Division Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-5346 (United States)

The trapping and acceleration of a test electron in a nonlinear plasma wave is analyzed in one-dimension using Hamiltonian dynamics. The plasma wave is described by a nonlinear, cold fluid model. The maximum energy gain and the minimum energy required for trapping of the test electron are determined. The separatrix is plotted for several values of plasma wave amplitude. In the large wave amplitude limit, the maximum energy of a trapped electron scales as 2{gamma}{sup 2}{sub {ital p}}{ital E}{sup 2}{sub {ital z}}, where {gamma}{sub {ital p}} is the relativistic factor associated with plasma wave phase velocity and {ital E}{sub {ital z}} is the electric field amplitude of the nonlinear plasma wave. This is in contrast to the well-know results for a sinusoidal wave, in which the maximum energy scales as 4{gamma}{sup 2}{sub {ital p}}{ital E}{sub {ital z}}. As the nonlinear plasma wave approaches wavebreaking, the maximum energy is given by {gamma}{sub max}{implies}4{gamma}{sup 3}{sub {ital p}}-3{gamma}{sub {ital p}}, where {gamma}{sub max} is the relativistic factor of the trapped electron. {copyright} 1995 {ital American Institute of Physics}.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 253411
• Report Number(s): CONF-940681--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 335; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
66 PHYSICS
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
DESIGN
ELECTROHYDRODYNAMICS
ELECTRON BEAMS
GAIN
WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS