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Electron energy increase in a laser wakefield accelerator using up-ramp plasma density profiles
Constantin Aniculaesei1, Vishwa Bandhu Pathak2, Hyung Taek Kim3,4
1Center for Relativistic Laser Science, Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea. ca182@ibs.re.kr.
Researchers enhanced electron beam energy by over 50% using shaped plasma density profiles in laser wakefield accelerators. This method also reduced electron beam divergence, offering tunable electron sources.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Particle Accelerators
- Laser-Plasma Interactions
Background:
- The phase velocity of laser wakefield accelerator wakefields can be controlled by manipulating plasma density profiles.
- This control theoretically allows for tailoring generated electron beam parameters.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally demonstrate a method for increasing electron beam energy using shaped longitudinal plasma density profiles.
- To investigate the effect of these profiles on electron beam divergence and energy tunability.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a series of shaped longitudinal plasma density profiles in a laser wakefield accelerator experiment.
- Conducting particle-in-cell simulations to model wakefield evolution under varying plasma densities.
Main Results:
- Achieved a >50% increase in mean electron peak energy (175 MeV to 262 MeV) and maximum peak energy (182 MeV to 363 MeV).
- Significantly reduced electron beam divergence: horizontal axis from 58.9 mrad to 12.6 mrad, vertical axis from 35 mrad to 8.3 mrad.
- Particle-in-cell simulations qualitatively confirmed the experimental findings regarding wakefield evolution.
Conclusions:
- Shaped plasma density profiles effectively control wakefield evolution and enhance electron beam energy.
- The presented method provides a means to increase electron energy at fixed laser power and offers an energy-tunable electron source.
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