Sadler, James D., Arran, Christopher orcid.org/0000-0002-8644-8118, Li, Hui et al. (1 more author) (2020) Overcoming the dephasing limit in multiple-pulse laser wakefield acceleration. Physical Review Accelerators and Beams. 021303. ISSN 2469-9888
Abstract
The electric field in laser-driven plasma wakefield acceleration is orders of magnitude higher than conventional radio-frequency cavities, but the energy gain is limited by dephasing between the ultra-relativistic electron bunch and the wakefield, which travels at the laser group velocity. We present a way to overcome this limit within a single plasma stage. The amplitude of the wakefield behind a train of laser pulses can be controlled in-flight by modulating the density profile. This creates a succession of resonant laser-plasma accelerator sections and non-resonant drift sections, within which the wakefield disappears and the electrons rephase. A two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation with four 2.5TW laser pulses produces a 50MeV electron energy gain, four times that obtained from a uniform plasma. Although laser red-shift prevents operation in the blowout regime, the technique offers increased energy gain for accelerators limited to the linear regime by the available laser power. This is particularly relevant for laser-plasma x-ray sources capable of operating at high repetition rates, which are highly sought after.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Keywords: | physics.acc-ph,physics.plasm-ph |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Physics (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 26 Mar 2020 11:40 |
Last Modified: | 06 Dec 2024 00:17 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.23.02130... |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.23.021303 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:158787 |
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Filename: PhysRevAccelBeams.23.021303.pdf
Description: Overcoming the dephasing limit in multiple-pulse laser wakefield acceleration
Licence: CC-BY 2.5