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Enhanced electron yield from laser-driven wakefield acceleration in high-Z gas jets
Mohammad Mirzaie1, Nasr A M Hafz1, Song Li1
1Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (MOE) and Department of Physics and Astronomy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|November 2, 2015
Summary
Laser-driven wakefield acceleration in gas jets produces electron beams. Nitrogen gas jets yielded the highest charge (1.7 nC), beneficial for generating X-rays, gamma rays, and positrons.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Particle Acceleration
Background:
- Laser-plasma wakefield acceleration is a promising method for generating high-energy particle beams.
- Gas jet targets offer advantages for controlled plasma generation in these experiments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate electron beam yield (charge) from helium, nitrogen, and neon gas jet plasmas.
- To study the dependence of electron beam charge on laser and plasma conditions.
- To explore the potential applications of generated electron beams.
Main Methods:
- Electron beam charge was measured using a charge-coupled device imaging system.
- The imaging system was cross-calibrated with an integrated current transformer.
- Experiments were conducted in a typical laser-plasma wakefield acceleration setup.
Main Results:
- Low Z-gas jet targets (helium, neon) produced high-quality, well-collimated electron beams with 10-100 pC yields.
- High Z-gas jets (nitrogen) at higher densities generated filamentary electron beams with significantly higher yields.
- Nitrogen gas jets showed evidence of cluster formation, achieving the highest electron beam charge of ~1.7 nC.
Conclusions:
- Laser-driven wakefield acceleration in gas jets is an effective method for generating electron beams.
- Electron beam charge is strongly dependent on gas type, density, and laser conditions.
- The intense electron beams generated have potential applications in producing bright X-rays, gamma rays, and energetic positrons.
