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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

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

American Physical Society

Topic

  • Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1079-7114