Generation of ultrafast electron bunch trains via trapping into multiple periods of plasma wakefields
Journal article, 2020

We demonstrate a novel approach to the generation of femtosecond electron bunch trains via laser-driven wakefield acceleration. We use two independent high-intensity laser pulses, a drive, and an injector, each creating their own plasma wakes. The interaction of the laser pulses and their wakes results in a periodic injection of free electrons in the drive plasma wake via several mechanisms, including ponderomotive drift, wake-wake interference, and pre-acceleration of electrons directly by strong laser fields. Electron trains were generated with up to four quasi-monoenergetic bunches, each separated in time by a plasma period. The time profile of the generated trains is deduced from an analysis of beam loading and confirmed using 2D particle-in-cell simulations.

Author

Grigory Golovin

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Vojtech Horny

Czech Academy of Sciences

Chalmers, Physics, Subatomic, High Energy and Plasma Physics

Wenchao Yan

Czech Academy of Sciences

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Colton Fruhling

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Daniel Haden

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Junzhi Wang

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Sudeep Banerjee

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Donald Umstadter

University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Physics of Plasmas

1070-664X (ISSN) 1089-7674 (eISSN)

Vol. 27 3 033105

Subject Categories

Atom and Molecular Physics and Optics

Other Physics Topics

Fusion, Plasma and Space Physics

DOI

10.1063/1.5141953

More information

Latest update

7/5/2024 1