Recent Progress at LBNL on Characterization of Laser WakefieldAccelerated Electron Bunches using Coherent Transition Radiation

Conference · Mon Jun 25 04:00:00 EDT 2007

OSTI ID:926302

Plateau, Guillaume R; Esarey, Eric H; Geddes, Cameron G.R.; Leemans, Wim P; Matlis, Nicholas H; Schroeder, Carl B; van Tilborg, Jeroen; Toth, Csaba

At LBNL, laser wakefield accelerators (LWFA) can now produce ultra-short electron bunches with energies up to 1 GeV [1]. As femtosecond electron bunches exit the plasma they radiate an intense burst in the terahertz range [2,3] via coherent transition radiation (CTR). Measuring the CTR properties allows non-invasive bunchlength diagnostics [4], a key to continuing rapid advance in LWFA technology. Experimental bunch length characterization for two different energy regimes through bolometric analysis and electro-optic (EO) sampling are presented. Measurements demonstrate both shot-to-shot stability of bunch parameters, and femtosecond synchronization between the bunch, the THz pulse, and the laser beam. In addition, this method of CTR generation provides THz pulses of very high peak power suitable for applications. Recent results reveal LWFA to be a promising intense ultrafast THz source.

• Research Organization: Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley NationalLaboratory, Berkeley, CA (US)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Director. Office of Science. High EnergyPhysics
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-05CH11231
• OSTI ID: 926302
• Report Number(s): LBNL--63273; BnR: KA1501020
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS
ACCELERATORS
ELECTRONS
LASERS
PEAK LOAD
PLASMA
SAMPLING
STABILITY
SYNCHRONIZATION
TRANSITION RADIATION
WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS
laser wakefield plasma accelerator