Projects per year
Abstract
The Advanced Laser–Plasma High-Energy Accelerators towards X-rays
(ALPHA-X) programme at the University of Strathclyde is developing laser–
plasma accelerators for the production of ultra-short high quality electron bunches. Focussing such LWFA bunches into an undulator, for example, requires particular attention to be paid to the emittance, electron bunch duration and energy spread. On the ALPHA-X wakefield accelerator beam line, a high intensity ultra-short pulse from a 30 TW Ti:Sapphire laser is focussed into a helium gas jet to produce femtosecond duration electron bunches in the range of 90–220 MeV. Measurements of the electron energy spectrum, obtained using a high resolution magnetic dipole spectrometer, show electron bunch r.m.s. energy spreads down to 0.5%. A pepper-pot mask is used to obtain transverse emittance measurements of a 128±3 MeV mono-energetic electron beam. An average normalized emittance of εrms,x,y = 2.2±0.7, 2.3±0.6 π-mm-mrad is measured, which is comparable to that of a conventional radio-frequency accelerator. The best measured emittance of εrms,x, = 1.1±0.1 π-mm-mrad corresponds to the resolution limit of the detection system. 3D particle-in-cell simulations of the ALPHA-X accelerator partially replicate the generation of low emittance, low energy spread bunches with charge less than 4 pC and gas flow simulations indicate both long density ramps and shock formation in the gas jet nozzle.
(ALPHA-X) programme at the University of Strathclyde is developing laser–
plasma accelerators for the production of ultra-short high quality electron bunches. Focussing such LWFA bunches into an undulator, for example, requires particular attention to be paid to the emittance, electron bunch duration and energy spread. On the ALPHA-X wakefield accelerator beam line, a high intensity ultra-short pulse from a 30 TW Ti:Sapphire laser is focussed into a helium gas jet to produce femtosecond duration electron bunches in the range of 90–220 MeV. Measurements of the electron energy spectrum, obtained using a high resolution magnetic dipole spectrometer, show electron bunch r.m.s. energy spreads down to 0.5%. A pepper-pot mask is used to obtain transverse emittance measurements of a 128±3 MeV mono-energetic electron beam. An average normalized emittance of εrms,x,y = 2.2±0.7, 2.3±0.6 π-mm-mrad is measured, which is comparable to that of a conventional radio-frequency accelerator. The best measured emittance of εrms,x, = 1.1±0.1 π-mm-mrad corresponds to the resolution limit of the detection system. 3D particle-in-cell simulations of the ALPHA-X accelerator partially replicate the generation of low emittance, low energy spread bunches with charge less than 4 pC and gas flow simulations indicate both long density ramps and shock formation in the gas jet nozzle.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 393-399 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Plasma Physics |
Volume | 78 |
Issue number | special issue 04 |
Early online date | 27 Feb 2012 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Keywords
- high resolution
- electron beam measurements
- alpha-x
- laser–plasma wakefield accelerator
- ultra-short high quality electron bunches
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Dive into the research topics of 'High resolution electron beam measurements on the ALPHA-X laser–plasma wakefield accelerator'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 2 Finished
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LaserLab Europe - The Integrated Initiative of European Laser Research Infrastructures II (FP7 Research Infrastructures)
Jaroszynski, D. (Principal Investigator)
European Commission - FP7 - General
1/03/09 → 31/05/12
Project: Research
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HARNESSING LASER-DRIVEN PLASMA WAVES AS PARTICLE AND RADIATION SOURCES
Jaroszynski, D. (Principal Investigator), Bingham, R. (Co-investigator), Ledingham, K. (Co-investigator) & McKenna, P. (Co-investigator)
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/03/07 → 31/08/11
Project: Research