Three electron beams from a laser-plasma wakefield accelerator and the energy apportioning question

X. Yang; E. Brunetti; D. Reboredo Gil; G.H. Welsh; F.Y. Li; S. Cipiccia; B. Ersfeld; D.W. Grant; P.A. Grant; M.R. Islam; M.P. Tooley; G. Vieux; S.M. Wiggins; Z.M. Sheng; D.A. Jaroszynski

doi:10.1038/srep43910

Three electron beams from a laser-plasma wakefield accelerator and the energy apportioning question

X. Yang, E. Brunetti, D. Reboredo Gil, G.H. Welsh, F.Y. Li, S. Cipiccia, B. Ersfeld, D.W. Grant, P.A. Grant, M.R. Islam, M.P. Tooley, G. Vieux, S.M. Wiggins, Z.M. Sheng, D.A. Jaroszynski

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

87 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Laser-wakefield accelerators are compact devices capable of delivering ultra-short electron bunches with pC-level charge and MeV-GeV energy by exploiting the ultra-high electric fields arising from the interaction of intense laser pulses with plasma. We show experimentally and through numerical simulations that a high-energy electron beam is produced simultaneously with two stable lower-energy beams that are ejected in oblique and counter-propagating directions, typically carrying off 5-10% of the initial laser energy. A MeV, 10s nC oblique beam is ejected in a 30-60 degree hollow cone, which is filled with more energetic electrons determined by the injection dynamics. A nC-level, 100s keV backward-directed beam is mainly produced at the leading edge of the plasma column. We discuss the apportioning of absorbed laser energy amongst the three beams. Knowledge of the distribution of laser energy and electron beam charge, which determine the overall efficiency, is important for various applications of laser-wakefield accelerators, including the development of staged high-energy accelerators.

Original language	English
Article number	43910
Number of pages	10
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/srep43910
Publication status	Published - 10 Mar 2017

Keywords

laser-wakefield accelerators
ultra-high-electric fields
ultra-short electron bunches
electron beam charge
laser energy distribution

Access to Document

10.1038/srep43910

Yang-etal-SR-2017-Three-electron-beams-from-a-laser-plasma-wakefield-acceleratorFinal published version, 2.57 MBLicence: CC BY 4.0

Cite this

Yang, X., Brunetti, E., Reboredo Gil, D., Welsh, G. H., Li, F. Y., Cipiccia, S., Ersfeld, B., Grant, D. W., Grant, P. A., Islam, M. R., Tooley, M. P., Vieux, G., Wiggins, S. M., Sheng, Z. M., & Jaroszynski, D. A. (2017). Three electron beams from a laser-plasma wakefield accelerator and the energy apportioning question. Scientific Reports, 7, Article 43910. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep43910

@article{248b2c25cdf3408db63050838991d6ed,

title = "Three electron beams from a laser-plasma wakefield accelerator and the energy apportioning question",

abstract = "Laser-wakefield accelerators are compact devices capable of delivering ultra-short electron bunches with pC-level charge and MeV-GeV energy by exploiting the ultra-high electric fields arising from the interaction of intense laser pulses with plasma. We show experimentally and through numerical simulations that a high-energy electron beam is produced simultaneously with two stable lower-energy beams that are ejected in oblique and counter-propagating directions, typically carrying off 5-10% of the initial laser energy. A MeV, 10s nC oblique beam is ejected in a 30-60 degree hollow cone, which is filled with more energetic electrons determined by the injection dynamics. A nC-level, 100s keV backward-directed beam is mainly produced at the leading edge of the plasma column. We discuss the apportioning of absorbed laser energy amongst the three beams. Knowledge of the distribution of laser energy and electron beam charge, which determine the overall efficiency, is important for various applications of laser-wakefield accelerators, including the development of staged high-energy accelerators.",

keywords = "laser-wakefield accelerators, ultra-high-electric fields, ultra-short electron bunches, electron beam charge, laser energy distribution",

author = "X. Yang and E. Brunetti and {Reboredo Gil}, D. and G.H. Welsh and F.Y. Li and S. Cipiccia and B. Ersfeld and D.W. Grant and P.A. Grant and M.R. Islam and M.P. Tooley and G. Vieux and S.M. Wiggins and Z.M. Sheng and D.A. Jaroszynski",

year = "2017",

month = mar,

day = "10",

doi = "10.1038/srep43910",

language = "English",

volume = "7",

journal = "Scientific Reports",

issn = "2045-2322",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Three electron beams from a laser-plasma wakefield accelerator and the energy apportioning question

AU - Yang, X.

AU - Brunetti, E.

AU - Reboredo Gil, D.

AU - Welsh, G.H.

AU - Li, F.Y.

AU - Cipiccia, S.

AU - Ersfeld, B.

AU - Grant, D.W.

AU - Grant, P.A.

AU - Islam, M.R.

AU - Tooley, M.P.

AU - Vieux, G.

AU - Wiggins, S.M.

AU - Sheng, Z.M.

AU - Jaroszynski, D.A.

PY - 2017/3/10

Y1 - 2017/3/10

N2 - Laser-wakefield accelerators are compact devices capable of delivering ultra-short electron bunches with pC-level charge and MeV-GeV energy by exploiting the ultra-high electric fields arising from the interaction of intense laser pulses with plasma. We show experimentally and through numerical simulations that a high-energy electron beam is produced simultaneously with two stable lower-energy beams that are ejected in oblique and counter-propagating directions, typically carrying off 5-10% of the initial laser energy. A MeV, 10s nC oblique beam is ejected in a 30-60 degree hollow cone, which is filled with more energetic electrons determined by the injection dynamics. A nC-level, 100s keV backward-directed beam is mainly produced at the leading edge of the plasma column. We discuss the apportioning of absorbed laser energy amongst the three beams. Knowledge of the distribution of laser energy and electron beam charge, which determine the overall efficiency, is important for various applications of laser-wakefield accelerators, including the development of staged high-energy accelerators.

AB - Laser-wakefield accelerators are compact devices capable of delivering ultra-short electron bunches with pC-level charge and MeV-GeV energy by exploiting the ultra-high electric fields arising from the interaction of intense laser pulses with plasma. We show experimentally and through numerical simulations that a high-energy electron beam is produced simultaneously with two stable lower-energy beams that are ejected in oblique and counter-propagating directions, typically carrying off 5-10% of the initial laser energy. A MeV, 10s nC oblique beam is ejected in a 30-60 degree hollow cone, which is filled with more energetic electrons determined by the injection dynamics. A nC-level, 100s keV backward-directed beam is mainly produced at the leading edge of the plasma column. We discuss the apportioning of absorbed laser energy amongst the three beams. Knowledge of the distribution of laser energy and electron beam charge, which determine the overall efficiency, is important for various applications of laser-wakefield accelerators, including the development of staged high-energy accelerators.

KW - laser-wakefield accelerators

KW - ultra-high-electric fields

KW - ultra-short electron bunches

KW - electron beam charge

KW - laser energy distribution

UR - http://www.nature.com/srep/

U2 - 10.1038/srep43910

DO - 10.1038/srep43910

M3 - Article

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 7

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

M1 - 43910

ER -

Three electron beams from a laser-plasma wakefield accelerator and the energy apportioning question

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Lab in a bubble

University Of Strathclyde - Equipment Account

LASERLAB-EUROPE