Parametric Amplification of Laser-Driven Electron Acceleration in Underdense Plasma

Parametric amplification of laser-driven electron acceleration in underdense plasma.

A new mechanism is reported that increases electron energy gain from a laser beam of ultrarelativistic intensity in underdense plasma. The increase occurs when the laser produces an ion channel that confines accelerated electrons. The frequency of electron oscillations across the channel is strongly modulated by the laser beam, which causes parametric amplification of the oscillations and enhan...

LASER DRIVEN ELECTRON ACCELERATION TO GeV ENERGIES IN PLASMA CHANNELS

This paper presents a brief discussion of ultra-short laser pulse propagation and laser wakefield acceleration in plasma channels. An envelope equation for the perturbed laser beam radius is given, including finite-pulse length and nonlinear effects. Angular distribution of electrons generated by the process of laser ionization and ponderomotive acceleration (LIPA) is also discussed. An example...

Resonantly laser-driven plasma waves for electron acceleration.

Laser - Driven Electron Acceleration in Infinite Vacuum

I first review basic models for laser-plasma interaction that explain electron acceleration and beam confinement in plasma. Next, I discuss ponderomotive electron acceleration in infinite vacuum, showing that the transverse scattering angle of the accelerated electron may be kept small with a proper choice of parameters. I then analyze the direct (a.k.a. linear) acceleration of an electron in i...

Dynamics of electron acceleration in laser-driven wakefields: Acceleration limits and asymmetric plasma waves

The experiments presented in this thesis study several aspects of electron acceleration in a laser-driven plasma wave. High-intensity lasers can efficiently drive a plasma wave that sustains electric fields on the order of 100 GV/m. Electrons that are trapped in this plasma wave can be accelerated to GeV-scale energies. As the accelerating fields in this scheme are 3 − 4 orders of magnitude hig...