Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026

Investigation of Early Plasma Evolution Induced by Ultrashort Laser Pulses
Published on: July 2, 2012
Electron Trapping from Interactions between Laser-Driven Relativistic Plasma Waves
Grigory Golovin1, Wenchao Yan1, Ji Luo2,3
1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588, USA.
Abstract:
Interactions of large-amplitude relativistic plasma waves were investigated experimentally by propagating two synchronized ultraintense femtosecond laser pulses in plasma at oblique crossing angles to each other. The electrostatic and electromagnetic fields of the colliding waves acted to preaccelerate and trap electrons via previously predicted, but untested injection mechanisms of ponderomotive drift and wake-wake interference. High-quality energetic electron beams were produced, also revealing valuable new information about plasma-wave dynamics.
Related Concept Videos
Social Traps
The Wave Nature of Light
Electron Carriers
Over the many stages of cellular respiration, glucose breaks down into carbon dioxide and water. Electron carriers pick up electrons lost by glucose in these reactions, temporarily storing and releasing them into the electron...
Electron Affinity
Ionic Bonding and Electron Transfer
Electron Behavior
Electrons are negatively charged subatomic particles that are attracted to an orbit around the positively-charged nucleus of an atom. They reside in locations that are associated with energy levels called shells and are further organized into sub-shells and orbitals within each shell.
Electrons Orbit the Nucleus
Electrons are found in specific locations outside of the nucleus. The shell in which an electron resides indicates the general energy level of the electron: those closer to the...

