Capturing relativistic wakefield structures in plasmas using ultrashort high-energy electrons as a probe

Zhang, C. J.; Hua, J. F.; Xu, X. L.; Li, F.; Pai, C. -H.; Wan, Y.; Wu, Y. P.; Gu, Y. Q.; Mori, W. B.; Joshi, C.; Lu, W.

doi:10.1038/srep29485

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Title: Capturing relativistic wakefield structures in plasmas using ultrashort high-energy electrons as a probe

Journal Article · 10 July 2016 · Scientific Reports

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep29485 · OSTI ID:1312955

Zhang, C. J. ^[1]; Hua, J. F. ^[2]; Xu, X. L. ^[3]; Li, F. ^[2]; Pai, C. -H. ^[2]; Wan, Y. ^[2]; Wu, Y. P. ^[2]; Gu, Y. Q. ^[4]; Mori, W. B. ^[3]; Joshi, C. ^[3]; Lu, W. ^[5]

Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China); China Academy of Engineering Physics, Sichuan (China); Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ., Shanghai (China); Tsinghua University
Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China)
Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
China Academy of Engineering Physics, Sichuan (China)
Tsinghua Univ., Beijing (China); Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ., Shanghai (China)

A new method capable of capturing coherent electric field structures propagating at nearly the speed of light in plasma with a time resolution as small as a few femtoseconds is proposed. This method uses a few femtoseconds long relativistic electron bunch to probe the wake produced in a plasma by an intense laser pulse or an ultra-short relativistic charged particle beam. As the probe bunch traverses the wake, its momentum is modulated by the electric field of the wake, leading to a density variation of the probe after free-space propagation. This variation of probe density produces a snapshot of the wake that can directly give many useful information of the wake structure and its evolution. Furthermore, this snapshot allows detailed mapping of the longitudinal and transverse components of the wakefield. We develop a theoretical model for field reconstruction and verify it using 3-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. This model can accurately reconstruct the wakefield structure in the linear regime, and it can also qualitatively map the major features of nonlinear wakes. As a result, the capturing of the injection in a nonlinear wake is demonstrated through 3D PIC simulations as an example of the application of this new method.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: FG02-92ER40727; SC0008316; SC0008491

OSTI ID:: 1312955

Journal Information:: Scientific Reports, Journal Name: Scientific Reports Vol. 6; ISSN 2045-2322

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Visualization of relativistic laser pulses in underdense plasma Schwab, M. B.; Siminos, E.; Heinemann, T. Physical Review Accelerators and Beams, Vol. 23, Issue 3 https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevaccelbeams.23.032801	journal	March 2020
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Visualization of relativistic laser pulses in underdense plasma Schwab, M. B.; Siminos, E.; Heinemann, T. GSI Helmholtzzentrum fuer Schwerionenforschung, GSI, Darmstadt https://doi.org/10.15120/gsi-2020-00463	text	January 2020
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