1
|
Pak T, Rezaei-Pandari M, Kim SB, Lee G, Wi DH, Hojbota CI, Mirzaie M, Kim H, Sung JH, Lee SK, Kang C, Kim KY. Multi-millijoule terahertz emission from laser-wakefield-accelerated electrons. LIGHT, SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS 2023; 12:37. [PMID: 36740599 PMCID: PMC9899771 DOI: 10.1038/s41377-022-01068-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
High-power terahertz radiation was observed to be emitted from a gas jet irradiated by 100-terawatt-class laser pulses in the laser-wakefield acceleration of electrons. The emitted terahertz radiation was characterized in terms of its spectrum, polarization, and energy dependence on the accompanying electron bunch energy and charge under various gas target conditions. With a nitrogen target, more than 4 mJ of energy was produced at <10 THz with a laser-to-terahertz conversion efficiency of ~0.15%. Such strong terahertz radiation is hypothesized to be produced from plasma electrons accelerated by the ponderomotive force of the laser and the plasma wakefields on the time scale of the laser pulse duration and plasma period. This model is examined with analytic calculations and particle-in-cell simulations to better understand the generation mechanism of high-energy terahertz radiation in laser-wakefield acceleration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taegyu Pak
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Department of Physics and Photon Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Mohammad Rezaei-Pandari
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Laser and Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sang Beom Kim
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Department of Physics and Photon Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Geonwoo Lee
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Department of Physics and Photon Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Dae Hee Wi
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Department of Physics and Photon Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Calin Ioan Hojbota
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Mohammad Mirzaie
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Hyeongmun Kim
- Advanced Photonics Research Institute, GIST, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Jae Hee Sung
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Advanced Photonics Research Institute, GIST, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Seong Ku Lee
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
- Advanced Photonics Research Institute, GIST, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Chul Kang
- Advanced Photonics Research Institute, GIST, Gwangju, 61005, Korea
| | - Ki-Yong Kim
- Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science, Gwangju, 61005, Korea.
- Department of Physics and Photon Science, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Korea.
- Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics and Department of Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, 20742, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Monte Carlo Study of Imaging Plate Response to Laser-Driven Aluminum Ion Beams. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/app11020820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
We measured the response of BAS-TR imaging plate (IP) to energetic aluminum ions up to 222 MeV, and compared it with predictions from a Monte Carlo simulation code using two different IP response models. Energetic aluminum ions were produced with an intense laser pulse, and the response was evaluated from cross-calibration between CR-39 track detector and IP energy spectrometer. For the first time, we obtained the response function of the BAS-TR IP for aluminum ions with a kinetic energy as high as 222 MeV. On close examination of the two IP response models, we confirm that the exponential model fits our experimental data better. Moreover, we find that the IP sensitivity in the exponential model is nearly constant in this energy range, suggesting that the response function can be determined even with little experimental data.
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhu CQ, Wang JG, Li YF, Feng J, Li DZ, He YH, Tan JH, Ma JL, Lu X, Li YT, Chen LM. Optical steering of electron beam in laser plasma accelerators. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:11609-11617. [PMID: 32403668 DOI: 10.1364/oe.380842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Using a Dazzler system and tilting a compressor grating, we provide an effective way of using the laser group delay dispersion to continuously steer the electron beam accelerated by an asymmetric laser wakefield. The deviation angle of the electron beam was the same as that of the angularly chirped laser pulse from its initial optical axis, which is determined by the laser pulse-front-tilt (PFT). This method can be utilized to continuously control over the pointing direction of electron bunches to the requisite trajectories, especially for practical applications in highly sensitive alignment devices such as electron-positron colliders or undulators. Additionally, we investigate the effect of PFT on the properties of the electron beam.
Collapse
|
4
|
Ma Y, Seipt D, Hussein AE, Hakimi S, Beier NF, Hansen SB, Hinojosa J, Maksimchuk A, Nees J, Krushelnick K, Thomas AGR, Dollar F. Polarization-Dependent Self-Injection by Above Threshold Ionization Heating in a Laser Wakefield Accelerator. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2020; 124:114801. [PMID: 32242688 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.124.114801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We report on the experimental observation of a decreased self-injection threshold by using laser pulses with circular polarization in laser wakefield acceleration experiments in a nonpreformed plasma, compared to the usually employed linear polarization. A significantly higher electron beam charge was also observed for circular polarization compared to linear polarization over a wide range of parameters. Theoretical analysis and quasi-3D particle-in-cell simulations reveal that the self-injection and hence the laser wakefield acceleration is polarization dependent and indicate a different injection mechanism for circularly polarized laser pulses, originating from larger momentum gain by electrons during above threshold ionization. This enables electrons to meet the trapping condition more easily, and the resulting higher plasma temperature was confirmed via spectroscopy of the XUV plasma emission.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Ma
- Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - D Seipt
- Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - A E Hussein
- Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - S Hakimi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - N F Beier
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| | - S B Hansen
- Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185, USA
| | - J Hinojosa
- Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - A Maksimchuk
- Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - J Nees
- Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - K Krushelnick
- Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - A G R Thomas
- Gérard Mourou Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
| | - F Dollar
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, California 92697, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Singh S, Slavicek T, Hodak R, Versaci R, Pridal P, Kumar D. Absolute calibration of imaging plate detectors for electron kinetic energies between 150 keV and 1.75 MeV. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2017; 88:075105. [PMID: 28764518 DOI: 10.1063/1.4993921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents the calibration of two different kinds of image plates (IPs) for detecting electrons with kinetic energy in the range of 150 keV-1.75 MeV. The calibration was performed using a 90Sr β source. The paper also provides the measured fading response for the IPs in the time range from 12 min to 18 h. Calibration results are compared to Monte Carlo simulations of energy deposited by the electrons in the sensitive layer of the IPs. It was found that within this energy range a linear relation between simulated energy deposited by the electron in the phosphor layer and the measured photo stimulated luminescence in the IP is adequate to model the response of the IP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Singh
- Institute of Physics of the ASCR, ELI-Beamlines, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - T Slavicek
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - R Hodak
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - R Versaci
- Institute of Physics of the ASCR, ELI-Beamlines, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - P Pridal
- Institute of Experimental and Applied Physics, Czech Technical University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - D Kumar
- Institute of Physics of the ASCR, ELI-Beamlines, 18221 Prague, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rabhi N, Bohacek K, Batani D, Boutoux G, Ducret JE, Guillaume E, Jakubowska K, Thaury C, Thfoin I. Calibration of imaging plates to electrons between 40 and 180 MeV. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2016; 87:053306. [PMID: 27250413 DOI: 10.1063/1.4950860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This paper presents the response calibration of Imaging Plates (IPs) for electrons in the 40-180 MeV range using laser-accelerated electrons at Laboratoire d'Optique Appliquée (LOA), Palaiseau, France. In the calibration process, the energy spectrum and charge of electron beams are measured by an independent system composed of a magnetic spectrometer and a Lanex scintillator screen used as a calibrated reference detector. It is possible to insert IPs of different types or stacks of IPs in this spectrometer in order to detect dispersed electrons simultaneously. The response values are inferred from the signal on the IPs, due to an appropriate charge calibration of the reference detector. The effect of thin layers of tungsten in front and/or behind IPs is studied in detail. GEANT4 simulations are used in order to analyze our measurements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Rabhi
- CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), Université Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - K Bohacek
- ELI Beamlines, Institute of Physics ASCR, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - D Batani
- CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), Université Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - G Boutoux
- CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), Université Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - J-E Ducret
- CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), Université Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - E Guillaume
- LOA, ENSTA ParisTech, École Polytechnique, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, 91762 Palaiseau, France
| | - K Jakubowska
- Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion, Hery Street 23, 01-497 Warsaw, Poland
| | - C Thaury
- LOA, ENSTA ParisTech, École Polytechnique, Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, 91762 Palaiseau, France
| | - I Thfoin
- CEA DAM DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Doria D, Kar S, Ahmed H, Alejo A, Fernandez J, Cerchez M, Gray RJ, Hanton F, MacLellan DA, McKenna P, Najmudin Z, Neely D, Romagnani L, Ruiz JA, Sarri G, Scullion C, Streeter M, Swantusch M, Willi O, Zepf M, Borghesi M. Calibration of BAS-TR image plate response to high energy (3-300 MeV) carbon ions. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2015; 86:123302. [PMID: 26724017 DOI: 10.1063/1.4935582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The paper presents the calibration of Fuji BAS-TR image plate (IP) response to high energy carbon ions of different charge states by employing an intense laser-driven ion source, which allowed access to carbon energies up to 270 MeV. The calibration method consists of employing a Thomson parabola spectrometer to separate and spectrally resolve different ion species, and a slotted CR-39 solid state detector overlayed onto an image plate for an absolute calibration of the IP signal. An empirical response function was obtained which can be reasonably extrapolated to higher ion energies. The experimental data also show that the IP response is independent of ion charge states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Doria
- Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - S Kar
- Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - H Ahmed
- Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - A Alejo
- Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - J Fernandez
- Instituto de Fusión Nuclear, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid 28006, Spain
| | - M Cerchez
- Institut für Laser-und Plasmaphysik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - R J Gray
- Department of Physics, SUPA, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, United Kingdom
| | - F Hanton
- Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - D A MacLellan
- Department of Physics, SUPA, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, United Kingdom
| | - P McKenna
- Department of Physics, SUPA, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0NG, United Kingdom
| | - Z Najmudin
- John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - D Neely
- Central Laser Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 0QX, United Kingdom
| | - L Romagnani
- LULI, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Route de Saclay, Palaiseau Cedex 91128, France
| | - J A Ruiz
- Colegio Los Naranjos, Fuenlabrada, Madrid 28941, Spain
| | - G Sarri
- Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - C Scullion
- Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - M Streeter
- John Adams Institute for Accelerator Science, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London SW7 2BW, United Kingdom
| | - M Swantusch
- Institut für Laser-und Plasmaphysik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - O Willi
- Institut für Laser-und Plasmaphysik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf 40225, Germany
| | - M Zepf
- Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| | - M Borghesi
- Centre for Plasma Physics, School of Mathematics and Physics, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Boutoux G, Rabhi N, Batani D, Binet A, Ducret JE, Jakubowska K, Nègre JP, Reverdin C, Thfoin I. Study of imaging plate detector sensitivity to 5-18 MeV electrons. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2015; 86:113304. [PMID: 26628126 DOI: 10.1063/1.4936141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Imaging plates (IPs) are commonly used as passive detectors in laser-plasma experiments. We calibrated at the ELSA electron beam facility (CEA DIF) the five different available types of IPs (namely, MS-SR-TR-MP-ND) to electrons from 5 to 18 MeV. In the context of diagnostic development for the PETawatt Aquitaine Laser (PETAL), we investigated the use of stacks of IP in order to increase the detection efficiency and get detection response independent from the neighboring materials such as X-ray shielding and detector supports. We also measured fading functions in the time range from a few minutes up to a few days. Finally, our results are systematically compared to GEANT4 simulations in order to provide a complete study of the IP response to electrons over the energy range relevant for PETAL experiments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Boutoux
- Univ. de Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - N Rabhi
- Univ. de Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - D Batani
- Univ. de Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - A Binet
- CEA DAM DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France
| | - J-E Ducret
- Univ. de Bordeaux, CNRS, CEA, CELIA (Centre Lasers Intenses et Applications), UMR 5107, F-33405 Talence, France
| | - K Jakubowska
- Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion, Hery Street 23, 01-497 Warsaw, Poland
| | - J-P Nègre
- CEA DAM DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France
| | | | - I Thfoin
- CEA DAM DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ozaki T, Kojima S, Arikawa Y, Shiraga H, Sakagami H, Fujioka S, Kato R. An electron/ion spectrometer with the ability of low energy electron measurement for fast ignition experiments. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2014; 85:11E113. [PMID: 25430292 DOI: 10.1063/1.4891043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
An electron energy spectrometer (ESM) is one of the most fundamental diagnostics in the fast ignition experiment. It is necessary to observe the spectra down to a low energy range in order to obtain the accurate deposition efficiency toward the core. Here, we realize the suitable ESM by using a ferrite magnet with a moderate magnetic field of 0.3 T and a rectangular magnetic circuit covered with a steel plate in the inlet side.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Ozaki
- National Institute for Fusion Science, 322-6, Oroshi, Toki, Gifu 509-5292, Japan
| | - S Kojima
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6, Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Y Arikawa
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6, Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - H Shiraga
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6, Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - H Sakagami
- National Institute for Fusion Science, 322-6, Oroshi, Toki, Gifu 509-5292, Japan
| | - S Fujioka
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6, Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - R Kato
- Institute of Scientific and Industrial Research, Osaka University, 8-1, Mihogaoka, Ibaraki, Osaka 567-0047, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Concurrence of monoenergetic electron beams and bright X-rays from an evolving laser-plasma bubble. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:5825-30. [PMID: 24711405 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1404336111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Desktop laser plasma acceleration has proven to be able to generate gigaelectronvolt-level quasi-monoenergetic electron beams. Moreover, such electron beams can oscillate transversely (wiggling motion) in the laser-produced plasma bubble/channel and emit collimated ultrashort X-ray flashes known as betatron radiation with photon energy ranging from kiloelectronvolts to megaelectronvolts. This implies that usually one cannot obtain bright betatron X-rays and high-quality electron beams with low emittance and small energy spread simultaneously in the same accelerating wave bucket. Here, we report the first (to our knowledge) experimental observation of two distinct electron bunches in a single laser shot, one featured with quasi-monoenergetic spectrum and another with continuous spectrum along with large emittance. The latter is able to generate high-flux betatron X-rays. Such is observed only when the laser self-guiding is extended over 4 mm at a fixed plasma density (4 × 10(18) cm(-3)). Numerical simulation reveals that two bunches of electrons are injected at different stages due to the bubble evolution. The first bunch is injected at the beginning to form a stable quasi-monoenergetic electron beam, whereas the second one is injected later due to the oscillation of the bubble size as a result of the change of the laser spot size during the propagation. Due to the inherent temporal synchronization, this unique electron-photon source can be ideal for pump-probe applications with femtosecond time resolution.
Collapse
|
11
|
Wang X, Zgadzaj R, Fazel N, Li Z, Yi SA, Zhang X, Henderson W, Chang YY, Korzekwa R, Tsai HE, Pai CH, Quevedo H, Dyer G, Gaul E, Martinez M, Bernstein AC, Borger T, Spinks M, Donovan M, Khudik V, Shvets G, Ditmire T, Downer MC. Quasi-monoenergetic laser-plasma acceleration of electrons to 2 GeV. Nat Commun 2013; 4:1988. [PMID: 23756359 PMCID: PMC3709475 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2012] [Accepted: 05/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Laser-plasma accelerators of only a centimetre’s length have produced nearly monoenergetic electron bunches with energy as high as 1 GeV. Scaling these compact accelerators to multi-gigaelectronvolt energy would open the prospect of building X-ray free-electron lasers and linear colliders hundreds of times smaller than conventional facilities, but the 1 GeV barrier has so far proven insurmountable. Here, by applying new petawatt laser technology, we produce electron bunches with a spectrum prominently peaked at 2 GeV with only a few per cent energy spread and unprecedented sub-milliradian divergence. Petawatt pulses inject ambient plasma electrons into the laser-driven accelerator at much lower density than was previously possible, thereby overcoming the principal physical barriers to multi-gigaelectronvolt acceleration: dephasing between laser-driven wake and accelerating electrons and laser pulse erosion. Simulations indicate that with improvements in the laser-pulse focus quality, acceleration to nearly 10 GeV should be possible with the available pulse energy. Laser-plasma accelerators can produce high-energy electron bunches over just a few centimetres of distance, offering possible table-top accelerator capabilities. Wang et al. break the current 1 GeV barrier by applying a petawatt laser to accelerate electrons nearly monoenergetically up to 2 GeV.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Wang
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, 1 University Station C1600, Austin, Texas 78712-1081, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kuramitsu Y, Nakanii N, Kondo K, Sakawa Y, Mori Y, Miura E, Tsuji K, Kimura K, Fukumochi S, Kashihara M, Tanimoto T, Nakamura H, Ishikura T, Takeda K, Tampo M, Kodama R, Kitagawa Y, Mima K, Tanaka KA, Hoshino M, Takabe H. Experimental evidence of nonthermal acceleration of relativistic electrons by an intensive laser pulse. PHYSICAL REVIEW. E, STATISTICAL, NONLINEAR, AND SOFT MATTER PHYSICS 2011; 83:026401. [PMID: 21405912 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.83.026401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2009] [Revised: 11/15/2010] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Nonthermal acceleration of relativistic electrons is investigated with an intensive laser pulse. An energy distribution function of energetic particles in the universe or cosmic rays is well represented by a power-law spectrum, therefore, nonthermal acceleration is essential to understand the origin of cosmic rays. A possible candidate for the origin of cosmic rays is wakefield acceleration at relativistic astrophysical perpendicular shocks. The wakefield is considered to be excited by large-amplitude precursor light waves in the upstream of the shocks. Substituting an intensive laser pulse for the large amplitude light waves, we performed a model experiment of the shock environments in a laboratory plasma. An intensive laser pulse was propagated in a plasma tube created by imploding a hollow polystyrene cylinder, as the large amplitude light waves propagated in the upstream plasma at an astrophysical shock. Nonthermal electrons were generated, and the energy distribution functions of the electrons have a power-law component with an index of ~2. We described the detailed procedures to obtain the nonthermal components from data obtained by an electron spectrometer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Kuramitsu
- Institute of Laser Engineering, Osaka University, 2-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Clayton CE, Ralph JE, Albert F, Fonseca RA, Glenzer SH, Joshi C, Lu W, Marsh KA, Martins SF, Mori WB, Pak A, Tsung FS, Pollock BB, Ross JS, Silva LO, Froula DH. Self-guided laser wakefield acceleration beyond 1 GeV using ionization-induced injection. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2010; 105:105003. [PMID: 20867526 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.105.105003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The concepts of matched-beam, self-guided laser propagation and ionization-induced injection have been combined to accelerate electrons up to 1.45 GeV energy in a laser wakefield accelerator. From the spatial and spectral content of the laser light exiting the plasma, we infer that the 60 fs, 110 TW laser pulse is guided and excites a wake over the entire 1.3 cm length of the gas cell at densities below 1.5 × 10(18) cm(-3). High-energy electrons are observed only when small (3%) amounts of CO2 gas are added to the He gas. Computer simulations confirm that it is the K-shell electrons of oxygen that are ionized and injected into the wake and accelerated to beyond 1 GeV energy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C E Clayton
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Zeil K, Kraft SD, Jochmann A, Kroll F, Jahr W, Schramm U, Karsch L, Pawelke J, Hidding B, Pretzler G. Absolute response of Fuji imaging plate detectors to picosecond-electron bunches. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2010; 81:013307. [PMID: 20113093 DOI: 10.1063/1.3284524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The characterization of the absolute number of electrons generated by laser wakefield acceleration often relies on absolutely calibrated FUJI imaging plates (IP), although their validity in the regime of extreme peak currents is untested. Here, we present an extensive study on the dependence of the sensitivity of BAS-SR and BAS-MS IP to picosecond electron bunches of varying charge of up to 60 pC, performed at the electron accelerator ELBE, making use of about three orders of magnitude of higher peak intensity than in prior studies. We demonstrate that the response of the IPs shows no saturation effect and that the BAS-SR IP sensitivity of 0.0081 photostimulated luminescence per electron number confirms surprisingly well data from previous works. However, the use of the identical readout system and handling procedures turned out to be crucial and, if unnoticed, may be an important error source.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Zeil
- Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (FZD), Dresden 01314, Germany.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Froula DH, Clayton CE, Döppner T, Marsh KA, Barty CPJ, Divol L, Fonseca RA, Glenzer SH, Joshi C, Lu W, Martins SF, Michel P, Mori WB, Palastro JP, Pollock BB, Pak A, Ralph JE, Ross JS, Siders CW, Silva LO, Wang T. Measurements of the critical power for self-injection of electrons in a laser wakefield accelerator. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2009; 103:215006. [PMID: 20366048 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.103.215006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2009] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
A laser wakefield acceleration study has been performed in the matched, self-guided, blowout regime producing 720 +/- 50 MeV quasimonoenergetic electrons with a divergence Deltatheta_{FWHM} of 2.85 +/- 0.15 mrad using a 10 J, 60 fs 0.8 microm laser. While maintaining a nearly constant plasma density (3 x 10{18} cm{-3}), the energy gain increased from 75 to 720 MeV when the plasma length was increased from 3 to 8 mm. Absolute charge measurements indicate that self-injection of electrons occurs when the laser power P exceeds 3 times the critical power P{cr} for relativistic self-focusing and saturates around 100 pC for P/P{cr} > 5. The results are compared with both analytical scalings and full 3D particle-in-cell simulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D H Froula
- L-399, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, California 94551, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|