Laser-wakefield acceleration of monoenergetic electron beams in the first plasma-wave period
Author
Summary, in English
Beam profile measurements of laser-wakefield accelerated electron bunches reveal that in the monoenergetic regime the electrons are injected and accelerated at the back of the first period of the plasma wave. With pulse durations c tau >=lambda(p), we observe an elliptical beam profile with the axis of the ellipse parallel to the axis of the laser polarization. This increase in divergence in the laser polarization direction indicates that the electrons are accelerated within the laser pulse. Reducing the plasma density (decreasing c tau/lambda(p)) leads to a beam profile with less ellipticity, implying that the self-injection occurs at the rear of the first period of the plasma wave. This also demonstrates that the electron bunches are less than a plasma wavelength long, i.e., have a duration < 25 fs. This interpretation is supported by 3D particle-in-cell simulations.
Department/s
Publishing year
2006
Language
English
Publication/Series
Physical Review Letters
Volume
96
Issue
21
Full text
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Document type
Journal article
Publisher
American Physical Society
Topic
- Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1079-7114