Laser Wakefield Acceleration at Reduced Density in the Self-Guided Regime

Journal Article · Wed Nov 18 04:00:00 EST 2009 · Physics of Plasmas

OSTI ID:986058

Ralph, J E; Albert, F; Glenzer, S H; Palastro, J P; Pollock, B B; Shaw, J L; Till, A; Froula, D H; Clayton, C E; Lu, W; Mori, W B; Pak, A E; Joshi, C; Martin, S; Silva, L O

Experiments conducted using a 200TW 60 fs laser have demonstrated up to 720 MeV electrons in the self-guided laser wakefield regime using pure Helium gas jet targets. Charge and energy of the accelerated electrons was measured using an electron spectrometer with a 0.5T magnet and charge callibrated image plates. The self-trapped charge in a helium plasma was shown to fall off with decreasing electron density with a threshold at 2.5 x 10{sup 18} (cm{sup -3}) below which no charge is trapped. Self-guiding however is shown to continue below this density limitation over distances of 14 mm with an exit spot size of 25{micro}m. Simulations show that injection of electrons at these densities can be assisted through ionization induced trapping in a mix of Helium with 3% Oxygen.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 986058
• Report Number(s): LLNL-JRNL-420517
• Journal Information: Physics of Plasmas, Journal Name: Physics of Plasmas Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 17; ISSN PHPAEN; ISSN 1070-664X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ACCELERATION
ELECTRON DENSITY
ELECTRON SPECTROMETERS
ELECTRONS
HELIUM
IONIZATION
LASERS
MAGNETS
OXYGEN
PLASMA
PLATES
TARGETS
TRAPPING