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Title: First Observations of Laser-Driven Acceleration of Relativistic Electrons in a Semi-Infinite Vacuum Space

Abstract

We have observed acceleration of relativistic electrons in vacuum driven by a linearly polarized visible laser beam incident on a thin gold-coated reflective boundary. The observed energy modulation effect follows all the characteristics expected for linear acceleration caused by a longitudinal electric field. As predicted by the Lawson-Woodward theorem the laser driven modulation only appears in the presence of the boundary. It shows a linear dependence with the strength of the electric field of the laser beam and also it is critically dependent on the laser polarization. Finally, it appears to follow the expected angular dependence of the inverse transition radiation process. experiment as the Laser Electron Accelerator Project (LEAP).

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
876442
Report Number(s):
SLAC-PUB-11647
TRN: US200606%%659
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: Contributed to2005 Particle Accelerator Conference, , 5/16/2005-5/20/2005
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS; ACCELERATION; ACCELERATORS; ELECTRIC FIELDS; ELECTRONS; LASERS; MODULATION; POLARIZATION; TRANSITION RADIATION; Accelerators,ACCPHY

Citation Formats

Plettner, T., Byer, R.L., Smith, T.I., /Stanford U., Phys. Dept., Colby, E., Cowan, B., Sears, C.M.S., Spencer, J.E., Siemann, R.H., and /SLAC. First Observations of Laser-Driven Acceleration of Relativistic Electrons in a Semi-Infinite Vacuum Space. United States: N. p., 2006. Web.
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Plettner, T., Byer, R.L., Smith, T.I., /Stanford U., Phys. Dept., Colby, E., Cowan, B., Sears, C.M.S., Spencer, J.E., Siemann, R.H., & /SLAC. First Observations of Laser-Driven Acceleration of Relativistic Electrons in a Semi-Infinite Vacuum Space. United States.
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Plettner, T., Byer, R.L., Smith, T.I., /Stanford U., Phys. Dept., Colby, E., Cowan, B., Sears, C.M.S., Spencer, J.E., Siemann, R.H., and /SLAC. Fri . "First Observations of Laser-Driven Acceleration of Relativistic Electrons in a Semi-Infinite Vacuum Space". United States. doi:. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/876442.
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@article{osti_876442,
title = {First Observations of Laser-Driven Acceleration of Relativistic Electrons in a Semi-Infinite Vacuum Space},
author = {Plettner, T. and Byer, R.L. and Smith, T.I. and /Stanford U., Phys. Dept. and Colby, E. and Cowan, B. and Sears, C.M.S. and Spencer, J.E. and Siemann, R.H. and /SLAC},
abstractNote = {We have observed acceleration of relativistic electrons in vacuum driven by a linearly polarized visible laser beam incident on a thin gold-coated reflective boundary. The observed energy modulation effect follows all the characteristics expected for linear acceleration caused by a longitudinal electric field. As predicted by the Lawson-Woodward theorem the laser driven modulation only appears in the presence of the boundary. It shows a linear dependence with the strength of the electric field of the laser beam and also it is critically dependent on the laser polarization. Finally, it appears to follow the expected angular dependence of the inverse transition radiation process. experiment as the Laser Electron Accelerator Project (LEAP).},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Feb 17 00:00:00 EST 2006},
month = {Fri Feb 17 00:00:00 EST 2006}
}
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