Laser-induced electron trapping in plasma-based accelerators

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · AIP Conference Proceedings

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.58897· OSTI ID:692538

Esarey, E; Hubbard, R; Ting, A ^[1]; Esarey, E; Leemans, W P ^[2]; Hafizi, B ^[3]

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1. Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, District of Columbia 20375 (United States)
2. Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 (United States)
3. Icarus Research, Inc., P.O. Box 30780, Bethesda, Maryland 20824 (United States)

Trapping of plasma electrons in the self-modulated laser wakefield accelerator (LWFA) via the coupling of Raman backscatter to the wake is examined analytically and with 3D test particle simulations. The trapping threshold for linear polarization is much less than for circular and occurs for wake amplitudes of 25{percent} which is well below wavebreaking. Self-channeling provides continuous focusing of the accelerated electrons which, along with relativistic pump laser effects, can enhance the energy gain by a factor {ge}2. The colliding pulse method for injecting electrons in the standard LWFA is examined. Simulations of test electrons in prescribed 1D fields indicate the production of relativistic ({ge}25 MeV) electrons with bunch durations as short as 3 fs, energy spreads as small as 0.3{percent}, and densities as high as 10{sup 18}&hthinsp;cm{sup {minus}3}. {copyright} {ital 1999 American Institute of Physics.}

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 692538
• Report Number(s): CONF-980742--
• Journal Information: AIP Conference Proceedings, Journal Name: AIP Conference Proceedings Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 472; ISSN APCPCS; ISSN 0094-243X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
BEAM COOLING
BEAM-PLASMA SYSTEMS
ELECTRON BEAMS
LASER RADIATION
MEV RANGE 100-1000
PLASMA INSTABILITY
RAMAN SPECTRA
WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS