Beat Wave Injection Of Electrons Into Plasma Waves Using Two Interfering Laser Pulses

An electron injector concept that uses a single injection laser pulse colliding with a pump laser pulse in a plasma is analyzed. The pump pulse generates a large amplitude laser wakefield (plasma wave). The counter propagating injection pulse collides with the pump laser pulse to generate a beat wave with a slow phase velocity. The ponderomotive force of the slow beat wave is responsible for injecting plasma electrons into the wakefield near the back of the pump pulse. Test particle simulations indicate that significant amounts of charge can be trapped and accelerated ((almost equal to) 10 pC). For higher charge, beam loading limits the validity of the simulations. The accelerated bunches are ultrashort ((almost equal to) 1 fs) with good beam quality (relative energy spread of a few percent at a mean energy of (almost equal to) 10 MeV and a normalized rms emittance on the order 0.4 mm.mrad). The effects of interaction angle and polarization are also explored, e.g., efficient trapping can occur for near-collinear geometries. Beat wave injection using a single injection pulse has the advantages of simplicity, ease of experimental implementation, and requires modest laser intensity I (asymptotically equal to) 8.8 x 1017 W/cm2.

Recent advances in the development of lasers with more energy, power, and brightness have opened up new possibilities for exciting applications. Applications of Laser-Plasma Interactions reviews the current status of high power laser applications. The book first explores the science and technology behind the ignition and burn of imploded fusion fue

The first book of its kind to highlight the unique capabilities of laser-driven acceleration and its diverse potential, Applications of Laser-Driven Particle Acceleration presents the basic understanding of acceleration concepts and envisioned prospects for selected applications. As the main focus, this new book explores exciting and diverse application possibilities, with emphasis on those uniquely enabled by the laser driver that can also be meaningful and realistic for potential users. It also emphasises distinction, in the accelerator context, between laser-driven accelerated particle sources and the integrated laser-driven particle accelerator system (all-optical and hybrid versions). A key aim of the book is to inform multiple, interdisciplinary research communities of the new possibilities available and to inspire them to engage with laser-driven acceleration, further motivating and advancing this developing field. Material is presented in a thorough yet accessible manner, making it a valuable reference text for general scientific and engineering researchers who are not necessarily subject matter experts. Applications of Laser-Driven Particle Acceleration is edited by Professors Paul R. Bolton, Katia Parodi, and Jörg Schreiber from the Department of Medical Physics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München in München, Germany. Features: Reviews the current understanding and state-of-the-art capabilities of laser-driven particle acceleration and associated energetic photon and neutron generation Presents the intrinsically unique features of laser-driven acceleration and particle bunch yields Edited by internationally renowned researchers, with chapter contributions from global experts

Filling the gap for a treatment of the subject as an advanced course in theoretical physics with a huge potential for future applications, this monograph discusses aspects of these applications and provides theoretical methods and tools for their investigation. Throughout this coherent and up-to-date work the main emphasis is on classical plasmas at high-temperatures, drawing on the experienced author's specialist background. As such, it covers the key areas of magnetic fusion plasma, laser-plasma-interaction and astrophysical plasmas, while also including nonlinear waves and phenomena. For master and PhD students as well as researchers interested in the theoretical foundations of plasma models.

Two mechanisms are described by which the phase matching between accelerated particle and accelerating plasma wave in a plasma beat-wave accelerator can be maintained indefinitely. (1) Interference between two beat-waves to cancel (a) the fields in the interfering electromagnetic waves, and (b) electron oscillations which would otherwise be set up by those waves. (2) Alternating plasma density used in conjunction with one or two beat-waves.

The focus of our work during the duration of this grant was on the following areas: (a) the fundamental plasma physics of intense laser-plasma interactions, including the nonlinear excitation of plasma waves for accelerator applications, as well as the recently discovered by us phenomenon of the relativistic bi-stability of relativistic plasma waves driven by a laser beatwave; (b) interaction of high power microwave beams with magnetized plasma, including some of the recently discovered by us phenomena such as the Undulator Induced Transparency (UIT) as well as the new approaches to dynamic manipulation of microwave pulses; (c) investigations of the multi-color laser pulse interactions in the plasma, including the recently discovered by us phenomenon of Electromagnetic Cascading (EC) and the effect of the EC of three-dimensional dynamics of laser pulses (enhanced/suppressed selffocusing etc.); (d) interaction of high-current electron beams with the ambient plasma in the context of Fast Ignitor (FI) physics, with the emphasis on the nonlinear dynamics of the Weibel instability and beam filamentation.

Using higher-order transverse laser modes as drivers forplasma wave excitation, and, in particular, using a ring laser beam withmaximum intensity off-axis, results in reversal of the focusinganddefocusing phase regions in a laser wakefield accelerator. Thisresults in improved performance of self-trapping and laser injectionschemes. Specifically, the trapping threshold required foropticalinjection is decreased and the maximum energy gain of the trappedelectrons is increased. This scheme could also be of interest for thegeneration of ring electron beams or for beam conditioning.

This workshop covered the general field of advanced particle accelerators, exploring the science and technology of a multitude of novel acceleration schemes. Various schemes under study utilize combinations of plasmas, laser beams, dielectric materials, and RF power. The development of technologies that will enable the design of future high energy physics machines is the underlying goal of this workshop.

After reviewing the problem of frequency shift of a laser pulse in interaction with plasma wake field and discussing the possibility of photon acceleration by this mechanism, the effect of beating between plasma wake field and plasma electrostatic (Bohm & Gross) wave will be discussed. LWFA (Laser Wake Field Acceleration) and BWA (Beat Wave Acceleration) mechanisms will be clarified by means of pondermotive Force Concept and relativistic fluid equation. [Authors' abstract].