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Title: Frequency chirp and pulse shape effects in self-modulated laser wakefield accelerators

Abstract

The effect of asymmetric laser pulses on plasma wave excitation in a self-modulated laser wakefield accelerator is examined. Laser pulse shape and frequency chirp asymmetries, controlled experimentally in the laser system through a grating pair compressor, are shown to strongly enhance measured electron yields for certain asymmetries. It is shown analytically that a positive (negative) frequency chirp enhances (suppresses) the growth rate of the Raman forward scattering and near-forward Raman sidescatter instabilities, but is of minimal importance for the experimental parameters. Temporal laser pulse shapes with fast rise times (< plasma period) are shown to generate larger wakes (compared to slow rise time pulses) which seed the growth of the plasma wave, resulting in enhanced electron yield.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Director, Office of Science. Office of High Energy and Nuclear Physics. Division of High Energy Physics (US)
OSTI Identifier:
816357
Report Number(s):
LBNL-52176
Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X; PHPAEN; R&D Project: 455401; TRN: US0304990
DOE Contract Number:  
AC03-76SF00098
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Physics of Plasmas
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 10; Journal Issue: 5; Other Information: Journal Publication Date: May 2003; PBD: 7 Nov 2002; Journal ID: ISSN 1070-664X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS; ELECTRONS; EXCITATION; LASERS; PLASMA; PLASMA WAVES; PULSE RISE TIME; SCATTERING; SEEDS; SHAPE; WAKEFIELD ACCELERATORS; LASER PLASMA ACCELERATION RAMAN SCATTERING

Citation Formats

Schroeder, C B, Esarey, E, Geddes, C G.R., Toth, Cs, Shadwick, B A, van Tilborg, J, Faure, J, and Leemans, W P. Frequency chirp and pulse shape effects in self-modulated laser wakefield accelerators. United States: N. p., 2002. Web.
Schroeder, C B, Esarey, E, Geddes, C G.R., Toth, Cs, Shadwick, B A, van Tilborg, J, Faure, J, & Leemans, W P. Frequency chirp and pulse shape effects in self-modulated laser wakefield accelerators. United States.
Schroeder, C B, Esarey, E, Geddes, C G.R., Toth, Cs, Shadwick, B A, van Tilborg, J, Faure, J, and Leemans, W P. 2002. "Frequency chirp and pulse shape effects in self-modulated laser wakefield accelerators". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/816357.
@article{osti_816357,
title = {Frequency chirp and pulse shape effects in self-modulated laser wakefield accelerators},
author = {Schroeder, C B and Esarey, E and Geddes, C G.R. and Toth, Cs and Shadwick, B A and van Tilborg, J and Faure, J and Leemans, W P},
abstractNote = {The effect of asymmetric laser pulses on plasma wave excitation in a self-modulated laser wakefield accelerator is examined. Laser pulse shape and frequency chirp asymmetries, controlled experimentally in the laser system through a grating pair compressor, are shown to strongly enhance measured electron yields for certain asymmetries. It is shown analytically that a positive (negative) frequency chirp enhances (suppresses) the growth rate of the Raman forward scattering and near-forward Raman sidescatter instabilities, but is of minimal importance for the experimental parameters. Temporal laser pulse shapes with fast rise times (< plasma period) are shown to generate larger wakes (compared to slow rise time pulses) which seed the growth of the plasma wave, resulting in enhanced electron yield.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/816357}, journal = {Physics of Plasmas},
issn = {1070-664X},
number = 5,
volume = 10,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Nov 07 00:00:00 EST 2002},
month = {Thu Nov 07 00:00:00 EST 2002}
}