# Radially polarized, half-cycle, attosecond pulses from laser wakefields through coherent synchrotron radiation

F.Y. Li, Z.M. Sheng, M. Chen, L. L. Yu, J. Meyer-ter-Vehn, W. B. Mori, J. Zhang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

5 Citations (Scopus)

### Abstract

Attosecond bursts of coherent synchrotron-like radiation are found when driving ultrathin relativistic electron disks in a quasi-one-dimensional regime of wakefield acceleration, in which the laser waist is larger than the wake wavelength. The disks of overcritical density shrink radially due to the focusing wake fields, thus providing the transverse currents for the emission of an intense, radially polarized, half-cycle pulse of about 100 attoseconds in duration. The electromagnetic pulse first focuses to a peak intensity 10 times larger ($7\times10^{20}\rm W/cm^2$) than the driving pulse and then emerges as a conical beam. Saturation of the emission amplitudes is derived analytically and in agreement with particle-in-cell simulation. By making use of gas targets instead of solids to form the ultrathin disks, the new scheme allows for high repetition rate required for applications.
Language English 043104 7 Physical Review E: Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics 90 4 23 Oct 2014 10.1103/PhysRevE.90.043104 Published - 23 Oct 2014

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Wake
Laser
Cycle
wakes
cycles
pulses
lasers
electromagnetic pulses
Burst
Saturation
repetition
bursts
Transverse
Electron
Wavelength
saturation
Target

### Keywords

• attosecond pulses
• laser wakefields

### Cite this

@article{122c2fe63a7542a7b1068873a071b8ab,
title = "Radially polarized, half-cycle, attosecond pulses from laser wakefields through coherent synchrotron radiation",
abstract = "Attosecond bursts of coherent synchrotron-like radiation are found when driving ultrathin relativistic electron disks in a quasi-one-dimensional regime of wakefield acceleration, in which the laser waist is larger than the wake wavelength. The disks of overcritical density shrink radially due to the focusing wake fields, thus providing the transverse currents for the emission of an intense, radially polarized, half-cycle pulse of about 100 attoseconds in duration. The electromagnetic pulse first focuses to a peak intensity 10 times larger ($7\times10^{20}\rm W/cm^2$) than the driving pulse and then emerges as a conical beam. Saturation of the emission amplitudes is derived analytically and in agreement with particle-in-cell simulation. By making use of gas targets instead of solids to form the ultrathin disks, the new scheme allows for high repetition rate required for applications.",
keywords = "attosecond pulses, laser wakefields, radiation",
author = "F.Y. Li and Z.M. Sheng and M. Chen and {L. Yu}, L. and J. Meyer-ter-Vehn and {B. Mori}, W. and J. Zhang",
year = "2014",
month = "10",
day = "23",
doi = "10.1103/PhysRevE.90.043104",
language = "English",
volume = "90",
journal = "Physical Review E",
issn = "1539-3755",
publisher = "American Physical Society",
number = "4",

}

Radially polarized, half-cycle, attosecond pulses from laser wakefields through coherent synchrotron radiation. / Li, F.Y.; Sheng, Z.M.; Chen, M.; L. Yu, L.; Meyer-ter-Vehn, J.; B. Mori, W.; Zhang, J.

In: Physical Review E: Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics , Vol. 90, No. 4, 043104, 23.10.2014.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

TY - JOUR

T1 - Radially polarized, half-cycle, attosecond pulses from laser wakefields through coherent synchrotron radiation

AU - Li, F.Y.

AU - Sheng, Z.M.

AU - Chen, M.

AU - L. Yu, L.

AU - Meyer-ter-Vehn, J.

AU - B. Mori, W.

AU - Zhang, J.

PY - 2014/10/23

Y1 - 2014/10/23

N2 - Attosecond bursts of coherent synchrotron-like radiation are found when driving ultrathin relativistic electron disks in a quasi-one-dimensional regime of wakefield acceleration, in which the laser waist is larger than the wake wavelength. The disks of overcritical density shrink radially due to the focusing wake fields, thus providing the transverse currents for the emission of an intense, radially polarized, half-cycle pulse of about 100 attoseconds in duration. The electromagnetic pulse first focuses to a peak intensity 10 times larger ($7\times10^{20}\rm W/cm^2$) than the driving pulse and then emerges as a conical beam. Saturation of the emission amplitudes is derived analytically and in agreement with particle-in-cell simulation. By making use of gas targets instead of solids to form the ultrathin disks, the new scheme allows for high repetition rate required for applications.

AB - Attosecond bursts of coherent synchrotron-like radiation are found when driving ultrathin relativistic electron disks in a quasi-one-dimensional regime of wakefield acceleration, in which the laser waist is larger than the wake wavelength. The disks of overcritical density shrink radially due to the focusing wake fields, thus providing the transverse currents for the emission of an intense, radially polarized, half-cycle pulse of about 100 attoseconds in duration. The electromagnetic pulse first focuses to a peak intensity 10 times larger ($7\times10^{20}\rm W/cm^2$) than the driving pulse and then emerges as a conical beam. Saturation of the emission amplitudes is derived analytically and in agreement with particle-in-cell simulation. By making use of gas targets instead of solids to form the ultrathin disks, the new scheme allows for high repetition rate required for applications.

KW - attosecond pulses

KW - laser wakefields

UR - http://journals.aps.org/pre/

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevE.90.043104

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevE.90.043104

M3 - Article

VL - 90

JO - Physical Review E

T2 - Physical Review E

JF - Physical Review E

SN - 1539-3755

IS - 4

M1 - 043104

ER -