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Title: Role of stochastic heating in wakefield acceleration when optical injection is used

Abstract

The dynamics of an electron in two counterpropagating waves is investigated. Conditions for stochastic acceleration are derived. The possibility of stochastic heating is confirmed when two waves interact with low density plasma by performing PIC (Particle In Cell) code simulations. It is shown that stochastic heating can play an important role in laser wakefield acceleration. When considering low density plasma interacting with a high intensity wave perturbed by a low intensity counterpropagating wave, stochastic heating can provide electrons with the right momentum for trapping in the wakefield. The influence of stochastic acceleration on the trapping of electrons is compared to the one of the beatwave force which is responsible for cold injection. To do so, several polarizations for the colliding pulses are considered. For some value of the plasma density and pulse duration, a transition from an injection due to stochastic acceleration to a cold injection dominated regime—regarding the trapped charge—has been observed from 2D and 3D PIC code simulations. This transition is ruled by the ratio of the interaction length of the pulses to the longitudinal size of the bubble. When the interaction length of the laser pulses reaches the radius of the accelerating cavity stochastic heating becomes dominant,more » and might be necessary to get electrons trapped into the wakefield, when wakefield inhibition grows with plasma density.« less

Authors:
; ;  [1]
  1. CEA, DAM, DIF, 91297 Arpajon (France)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22303789
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 21; Journal Issue: 8; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; ACCELERATION; COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS; ELECTRONS; LASERS; PLASMA DENSITY; POLARIZATION; SIMULATION; STOCHASTIC PROCESSES; TRAPPING

Citation Formats

Rassou, S., Bourdier, A., and Drouin, M. Role of stochastic heating in wakefield acceleration when optical injection is used. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4890977.
Rassou, S., Bourdier, A., & Drouin, M. Role of stochastic heating in wakefield acceleration when optical injection is used. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4890977
Rassou, S., Bourdier, A., and Drouin, M. 2014. "Role of stochastic heating in wakefield acceleration when optical injection is used". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4890977.
@article{osti_22303789,
title = {Role of stochastic heating in wakefield acceleration when optical injection is used},
author = {Rassou, S. and Bourdier, A. and Drouin, M.},
abstractNote = {The dynamics of an electron in two counterpropagating waves is investigated. Conditions for stochastic acceleration are derived. The possibility of stochastic heating is confirmed when two waves interact with low density plasma by performing PIC (Particle In Cell) code simulations. It is shown that stochastic heating can play an important role in laser wakefield acceleration. When considering low density plasma interacting with a high intensity wave perturbed by a low intensity counterpropagating wave, stochastic heating can provide electrons with the right momentum for trapping in the wakefield. The influence of stochastic acceleration on the trapping of electrons is compared to the one of the beatwave force which is responsible for cold injection. To do so, several polarizations for the colliding pulses are considered. For some value of the plasma density and pulse duration, a transition from an injection due to stochastic acceleration to a cold injection dominated regime—regarding the trapped charge—has been observed from 2D and 3D PIC code simulations. This transition is ruled by the ratio of the interaction length of the pulses to the longitudinal size of the bubble. When the interaction length of the laser pulses reaches the radius of the accelerating cavity stochastic heating becomes dominant, and might be necessary to get electrons trapped into the wakefield, when wakefield inhibition grows with plasma density.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4890977},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22303789}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 8,
volume = 21,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Fri Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}