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Published on: August 12, 2013
Simulation and design of stable channel-guided laser wakefield accelerators
R F Hubbard1, D Kaganovich, B Hafizi
1Beam Physics Branch, Plasma Physics Division, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375-5346, USA.
Summary
Channel-guided laser wakefield accelerators (LWFA) offer improved electron energy gain. A new scaling model quantifies resonant LWFA performance, showing tradeoffs and generally lower energy gains than simpler models.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Particle Accelerators
- Laser-Plasma Interactions
Background:
- Most laser wakefield accelerator (LWFA) experiments use the self-modulated (SM) regime, leading to instabilities and poor beam quality.
- Channel-guided LWFAs, particularly in the resonant regime, promise higher electron energy gain and accelerating gradients.
- Plasma channels, often created by capillary discharge, enable guiding of intense laser pulses over centimeters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a scaling model for resonant channel-guided LWFA performance.
- To quantify tradeoffs in laser and channel parameters for optimizing LWFA performance.
- To compare resonant LWFA performance with channel-guided SM-LWFA.
Main Methods:
- Development of a scaling model to predict resonant LWFA performance metrics.
- Quantification of accelerating gradient, dephasing length, and energy gain based on experimental parameters.
- Numerical simulations to validate the scaling model and study channel-guided SM-LWFA.
Main Results:
- The scaling model predicts resonant LWFA performance, including tradeoffs in experimental parameters.
- Predicted energy gains from the model are generally lower than those from simpler models.
- Simulations validate the model across different plasma densities and show channel-guided SM-LWFA is less unstable than self-guided SM-LWFA.
Conclusions:
- Resonant channel-guided LWFAs offer potential for high performance but require careful parameter optimization.
- The developed scaling model provides a framework for understanding and predicting resonant LWFA behavior.
- Channel-guided SM-LWFA presents a more accessible alternative with reduced instability compared to self-guided SM-LWFA.
