Propagation of Short Electron Pulses in a Plasma Channel

We report the near-steady-state propagation over long distance of a 25 psec, tightly focused relativistic electron beam which creates, by radial ejection of plasma electrons, a focusing ion channel in a plasma of electron density smaller than the beam. A dense beam core, close in radius to the injected beam, which was nearly matched to the ion focusing strength, is observed at the plasma exit. Time-resolved imaging confirms that this core is situated in the trailing half of the beam, as predicted by analytical and computer models. We discuss the impact of these results on plasma wake field acceleration schemes. [S0031-9007(97)04922-3]