Laser driven electron acceleration in vacuum, gases, and plasmas

Journal Article · Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996 · Physics of Plasmas

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.871673· OSTI ID:282930

Sprangle, P; Esarey, E; Krall, J ^[1]

---

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

In this paper we discuss some of the important issues pertaining to laser acceleration in vacuum, neutral gases, and plasmas. The limitations of laser vacuum acceleration as they relate to electron slippage, laser diffraction, material damage, and electron aperture effects, are discussed. An inverse Cherenkov laser acceleration configuration is presented in which a laser beam is self-guided in a partially ionized gas. Optical self-guiding is the result of a balance between the nonlinear self-focusing properties of neutral gases and the diffraction effects of ionization. The stability of self-guided beams is analyzed and discussed. In addition, aspects of the laser wakefield accelerator are presented and laser-driven accelerator experiments are briefly discussed. {copyright} {ital 1996 American Institute of Physics.}

• OSTI ID: 282930
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Vol. 3, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: May 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
PLASMA ACCELERATION
LASER RADIATION
WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS
IONIZED GASES
DIFFRACTION
PHOTON-ELECTRON INTERACTIONS
SELF-FOCUSING