Electron yield enhancement in a laser wakefield accelerator driven by asymmetric laser pulses

Journal Article · Thu Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 2002 · Physical Review Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.89.174802· OSTI ID:821644

Leemans, W P ^[1]; Catravas, P; Esarey, E; Geddes, C G.R.; Toth, C; Trines, R; Schroeder, C B; Shadwick, B A; van Tilborg, J; Faure, J

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1. LBNL Library

The effect of asymmetric laser pulses on electron yield from a laser wakefield accelerator has been experimentally studied using > 10{sup 19} cm{sup -3} plasmas and a 10 TW, > 45 fs, Ti:Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} laser. Laser pulse shape was controlled through non-linear chirp with a grating pair compressor. Pulses (76 fs FWHM) with a steep rise and positive chirp were found to significantly enhance the electron yield compared to pulses with a gentle rise and negative chirp. Theory and simulation show that fast rising pulses can generate larger amplitude wakes that seed the growth of the self-modulation instability and that frequency chirp is of minimal importance for the experimental parameters.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Director, Office of Science. Office of High Energy and Nuclear Physics. Division of High Energy Physics (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-76SF00098
• OSTI ID: 821644
• Report Number(s): LBNL--51372
• Journal Information: Physical Review Letters, Journal Name: Physical Review Letters Journal Issue: 17 Vol. 8917; ISSN 0031-9007; ISSN PRLTAO
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
AMPLITUDES
ELECTRONS
INSTABILITY
LASER WAKEFIELD ACCELERATOR ELECTRON
LASERS
SEEDS
SHAPE
SIMULATION
WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS