Numerical simulations of LWFA for the next generation of laser systems
- GoLP/Instituto de Plasmas e Fusao Nuclear, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Lisbon (Portugal)
- DCTI/Instituto Superior de Ciencias do Trabalho e da Empresa, Lisbon (Portugal)
- University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles (United States)
- CCLRC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0QX (United Kingdom)
The development of new laser systems based on OPCPA will push Laser Wakefield Accelerators (LWFA) to a qualitatively new energy range. As in the past, numerical simulations will play a critical role in testing, probing and optimizing the physical parameters and setup of these upscale experiments. Based on the prospective design parameters for the future Vulcan 10 PW OPCPA laser system, we have determined the optimal parameters for a single LWFA stage from theoretical scalings for such system, which predict accelerations to the energy frontier, with self-injected electrons in excess of 10 GeV for a self-guided configuration, and above 50 GeV bunches with externally-injected electrons in a laser-guided configuration. These parameters were then used as a baseline for 3D full scale simulations with OSIRIS and QuickPIC. A 12 GeV self-injected beam was obtained with both codes, in agreement with theoretical predictions for the maximum energy gain and the injected charge. Preliminary results on the laser-guided configuration already confirm the accelerating gradients and the stability of the laser guided propagation for long distances required to reach the higher energies predicted by the theoretical scalings for this scenario.
- OSTI ID:
- 21255233
- Journal Information:
- AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1086, Issue 1; Conference: 13. advanced accelerator concepts workshop, Santa Cruz, CA (United States), 27 Jul - 2 Aug 2008; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3080919; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0094-243X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Control of Laser Plasma Based Accelerators up to 1 GeV
Preparation For Laser Wakefield Experiments Driven by the Texas Petawatt Laser System