Ultrahigh-gradient acceleration of injected electrons by laser-excited relativistic electron plasma waves

1993350 citationsJournal Article

Authors

C. E. Clayton · University of California, Los Angeles

K. A. Marsh · University of California, Los Angeles

A. Dyson · University of California, Los Angeles

M. Everett · University of California, Los Angeles

Amit Lal · University of California, Los Angeles

Wim Leemans · University of California, Los Angeles

Ronald L. Williams

Abstract

High-gradient acceleration of externally injected 2.1-MeV electrons by a laser beat wave driven relativistic plasma wave has been demonstrated for the first time. Electrons with energies up to the detection limit of 9.1 MeV were detected when such a plasma wave was resonantly excited using a two-frequency laser. This implies a gradient of 0.7 GeV/m, corresponding to a plasma-wave amplitude of more than 8%. The electron signal was below detection threshold without injection or when the laser was operated on a single frequency.

Topics & Keywords

Laser-Plasma Interactions and Diagnostics Laser-induced spectroscopy and plasma Laser-Matter Interactions and Applications

UN Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable and clean energy

Publication Details

Published in: Physical Review Letters

Volume 70, Issue 1, pp. 37-40

DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.70.37

Field-Weighted Citation Impact: 48.07