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High-charge electron beams from a laser-wakefield accelerator driven by a CO2 laser
Enrico Brunetti1, R Neil Campbell2, Jack Lovell2
1SUPA, Department of Physics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. enrico.brunetti@strath.ac.uk.
Scientific Reports
|May 18, 2022
Summary
Using longer wavelength CO2 lasers, scientists can create electron beams with up to 1000 times more charge than traditional methods. This breakthrough in laser-wakefield accelerators (LWFA) promises more efficient and powerful compact accelerators.
Area of Science:
- Plasma Physics
- Particle Accelerators
- Laser Technology
Background:
- Laser-wakefield accelerators (LWFAs) using near-infrared lasers generate GeV electron beams.
- LWFA efficiency scales with laser wavelength due to ponderomotive force.
- Current LWFAs are limited by electron beam charge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of CO2 lasers for enhanced LWFA performance.
- To numerically study electron beam generation using sub-picosecond CO2 lasers.
- To compare CO2-driven LWFAs with near-infrared laser-driven LWFAs.
Main Methods:
- Numerical simulations of LWFA.
- Utilizing 100-800 TW, sub-picosecond CO2 laser systems.
- Exploring various laser and plasma parameters for electron beam generation.
Main Results:
- CO2 lasers can generate electron beams with charge exceeding near-infrared LWFAs by up to three orders of magnitude.
- Achieved electron beam energies range from 10s of MeV to GeV.
- Generated electron beam charges range from 1-100 nC over 10-200 mm plasma length.
- Laser-to-electron energy conversion efficiency reached up to 70% with 100s of kA currents.
- External guiding was not required for these high-charge beams.
Conclusions:
- Sub-picosecond CO2 lasers offer a pathway to significantly higher charge electron beams in LWFAs.
- CO2-driven LWFAs demonstrate potential for compact, high-performance accelerators and radiation sources.
- This approach could enable new applications in industry and research requiring robust accelerator technology.
