Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sahar Barzegar, Ali Reza Niknam
Summary: The proposed scheme for injection and acceleration of electrons in wakefield accelerators is based on the interaction between a laser pulse and an electron beam, leading to stronger wakefield generation and higher energy gain in the bubble regime. A interpretive model is suggested to predict practical ranges of electron beam and laser pulse parameters, while the effect of altering the initial electron beam position on self-trapping of plasma electrons is also studied. The injection of a 280 pC electron beam in the decelerating phase of a 75 TW laser driven wakefield results in the production of an ultra-short (25 fs), high charge (340 pC), 1 GeV electron bunch.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Celine S. Hue, Yang Wan, Eitan Y. Levine, Victor Malka
Summary: Density downramp injection is an elegant and efficient method for generating high-quality electron beams in laser wakefield accelerators. Recent studies have shown the possibility of generating electron beams with charges ranging from tens to hundreds of picocoulombs while maintaining good beam quality. This comprehensive numerical study demonstrates that the current profile of the injected electron beam is directly correlated with the density transition parameters, which further affects the beam charge and energy evolution. Large-scale quasi-three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations support all the results. We anticipate that the electron beams with tunable beam properties generated using this approach will be suitable for a wide range of applications.
MATTER AND RADIATION AT EXTREMES
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
F. M. Foerster, A. Doepp, F. Haberstroh, K. Grafenstein, D. Campbell, Y-Y Chang, S. Corde, J. P. Couperus Cabadag, A. Debus, M. F. Gilljohann, A. F. Habib, T. Heinemann, B. Hidding, A. Irman, F. Irshad, A. Knetsch, O. Kononenko, A. Martinez de la Ossa, A. Nutter, R. Pausch, G. Schilling, A. Schletter, S. Schoebel, U. Schramm, E. Travac, P. Ufer, S. Karsch
Summary: The experimental results demonstrate a plasma wakefield accelerator driven by a laser wakefield accelerator, generating stable and high-quality electron beams in the PWFA stage. Combining the PWFA stage with LWFA can optimize electron beam quality and reduce the influence of fluctuating laser drivers on electron beam stability.
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Y. Ma, D. Seipt, A. E. Hussein, S. Hakimi, N. F. Beier, S. B. Hansen, J. Hinojosa, A. Maksimchuk, J. Nees, K. Krushelnick, A. G. R. Thomas, F. Dollar
Summary: Investigation into the effects of laser polarization and wavelength on electron injection dynamics in a laser wakefield accelerator reveals the importance of circularly polarized laser pulses in providing higher residual momentum and kinetic energy gain for ionized electrons. The strong correlation between above threshold ionization and laser wavelength highlights the complex interplay of different physical effects in laser wakefield acceleration.
PHYSICS OF PLASMAS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Jia Wang, Ming Zeng, Dazhang Li, Xiaoning Wang, Wei Lu, Jie Gao
Summary: A new injection scheme is proposed to generate electron beams with a few permille energy spread, submillimeter milliradian emittance, and more than a 100 pC charge in laser wakefield accelerators. The scheme uses an interference ring pattern to create onion-like multisheaths in the plasma wakefield, and the change in wavefront curvature triggers the injection of plasma electrons.
MATTER AND RADIATION AT EXTREMES
(2022)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
V Khudiakov, A. Pukhov
Summary: This research presents an electron injection scheme for plasma wakefield acceleration, which utilizes fast electron generation via laser-solid interaction and trapping by a quasilinear wakefield. The study demonstrates the capability of producing high-quality electron bunches and accelerating them to high energies.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiancai Xu, Leejin Bae, Mohamed Ezzat, Hyung Taek Kim, Jeong Moon Yang, Sang Hwa Lee, Jin Woo Yoon, Jae Hee Sung, Seong Ku Lee, Liangliang Ji, Baifei Shen, Chang Hee Nam
Summary: A localized nanoparticle insertion scheme has been developed to decouple electron injection from laser evolution in laser wakefield acceleration. Experimental results show that controllable electron injection, localized within a short range of 100 μm, can be achieved by the nanoparticle insertion method. The optimized ablation laser energy and temporal delay result in electron bunches with a beam charge above 300 pC and a divergence of around 12 mrad, with an injection probability over 90%. This method provides a stable high-charge injection approach for electron sources in low-density plasmas, avoiding the disturbing effects of the electron injection process on laser evolution.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
A. Maitrallain, E. Brunetti, M. J. Streeter, B. Kettle, R. Spesyvtsev, G. Vieux, M. Shahzad, B. Ersfeld, S. R. Yoffe, A. Kornaszewski, O. Finlay, Y. Ma, F. Albert, N. Bourgeois, S. J. D. Dann, N. Lemos, S. Cipiccia, J. M. Cole, I. G. Gonzalez, L. Willingale, A. Higginbotham, A. E. Hussein, M. Smid, K. Falk, K. Krushelnick, N. C. Lopes, E. Gerstmayr, C. Lumsdon, O. Lundh, S. P. D. Mangles, Z. Najmudin, P. P. Rajeev, D. R. Symes, A. G. R. Thomas, D. A. Jaroszynski
Summary: A parametric study on the production of low-energy-spread, ultra-relativistic electron ring beams is conducted in a two-stage gas cell. The study reveals the existence of ring-shaped beams with energies higher than 750 MeV. Multiple ring-shaped beams with different energies are observed and investigated, and particle tracking and particle-in-cell simulations are used to understand their properties and the mechanism of trapping outside the bubble.
NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Ming Zeng, Keita Seto
Summary: This model examines the betatron oscillation and radiation reaction effects on an electron in a plasma wakefield accelerator, demonstrating good agreement between theoretical and numerical solutions. The discussion also includes the regime where quantum radiation becomes significant, highlighting the importance of this model for designing future plasma-based super accelerators or colliders.
NEW JOURNAL OF PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Physics, Applied
Mohammad Rezaei-Pandari, Mohammad Mirzaie, Calin Ioan Hojbota, Tae Gyu Pak, Sang Beom Kim, Geon Woo Lee, Reza Massudi, Ali Reza Niknam, Seong Ku Lee, Ki-Yong Kim, Chang Hee Nam
Summary: This study investigates the effect of laser polarization on the laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) of electrons in the bubble regime, particularly with ionization injection. The findings show that circular polarization significantly increases electron reproducibility rate, charge, and beam divergence, while linear polarization enhances electron peak energy and beam pointing stability. These experimental results are supported by three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. The study highlights the potential of laser polarization as a simple and effective tool in controlling LWFA and electron beam properties for different applications.
PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Jia Wang, Ming Zeng, Xiaoning Wang, Dazhang Li, Jie Gao
Summary: In this study, a new method is proposed to control ionization injection in a laser wakefield accelerator. By colliding a frequency-doubled pulse with the driving pulse at an acute angle, the duration of injection is effectively reduced, resulting in high-quality injection.
PLASMA PHYSICS AND CONTROLLED FUSION
(2022)
Article
Optics
Aihua Deng, Xiaowen Li, Zhiling Luo, Yan Li, Jiaolong Zeng
Summary: In this paper, the authors demonstrate the generation and acceleration of attosecond micro bunched electron beams in laser-plasma wakefield through particle-in-cell simulations. The electrons with phase-dependent distributions are non-linearly mapped to discrete final phase spaces due to near-threshold ionization with the drive laser. These electrons can maintain the initial bunching structure during acceleration, resulting in an attosecond electron bunch train after leaving the plasma. The modulation of the current density profile is about 2k0 to 3k0, where k0 is the wavenumber of the laser pulse. Pre-bunched electrons with low relative energy spread may have potential in future coherent light sources driven by laser-plasma accelerators and have broad applications in attosecond science and ultrafast dynamical detection.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Yipeng Wu, Jianfei Hua, Zheng Zhou, Jie Zhang, Shuang Liu, Bo Peng, Yu Fang, Xiaonan Ning, Zan Nie, Fei Li, Chaojie Zhang, Chih-Hao Pai, Yingchao Du, Wei Lu, Warren B. Mori, Chan Joshi
Summary: Plasma-based accelerators driven by intense lasers or charged particle beams can accelerate electrons or positrons with high gradients, but require stability, quality, controllable polarization, and reproducibility. External injection from a conventional linear accelerator into a laser wakefield accelerator and subsequent acceleration without significant charge loss has been demonstrated. Proper shaping and matching of the beam into the plasma structure can achieve this with modest degradation in beam quality, paving the way for a high-energy, hybrid conventional-plasma-based accelerator.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Qiang Chen, Dominika Maslarova, Junzhi Wang, Shao Xian Lee, Vojtech Horny, Donald Umstadter
Summary: This study presents the first experiment of transverse laser interference for electron injection into laser plasma accelerators. Simulation results show that this injection method, different from previous methods, traps electrons into later acceleration buckets. With optimal plasma tapering, the dephasing limit of these unprecedented electron beams could be potentially increased. The simulations and experiments confirm the acceleration of spatially dual electron beams induced by the interference.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
S. Barzegar, M. Sedaghat, A. R. Niknam
Summary: A novel technique for generating high current electron bunches in electron beam driven plasma wakefield accelerators is proposed, utilizing the co-propagation of an electron beam and a laser pulse. The use of a laser pulse leads to bubble expansion and electron injection, resulting in the generation of an ultra short electron bunch with increased charge. Manipulating the electron beam driver density and laser pulse intensity allows for external control of the loaded charge and enhancement of self-injected electrons. These adjustments also affect the final energy spread of the electron bunch.
PLASMA PHYSICS AND CONTROLLED FUSION
(2021)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
P. Martin, H. Ahmed, D. Doria, A. Alejo, R. Clarke, S. Ferguson, J. Fernandez-Tobias, R. R. Freeman, J. Fuchs, A. Green, J. S. Green, D. Gwynne, F. Hanton, J. Jarrett, D. Jung, K. F. Kakolee, A. G. Krygier, C. L. S. Lewis, A. McIlvenny, P. McKenna, J. T. Morrison, Z. Najmudin, K. Naughton, G. Nersisyan, P. Norreys, M. Notley, M. Roth, J. A. Ruiz, C. Scullion, M. Zepf, S. Zhai, M. Borghesi, S. Kar
Summary: Image plates (IPs) are commonly used detectors in laser driven ion acceleration. This paper presents an absolute calibration of Fujifilm BAS-TR IPs to 1-40 MeV protons, using high resolution Thomson parabola spectrometers and CR-39 nuclear track detectors. The calibrated response provides an absolute calibration over a large range of proton energies relevant to current experiments.
REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS
(2022)
Article
Optics
M. J. V. Streeter, C. Colgan, C. C. Cobo, C. Arran, E. E. Los, R. Watt, N. Bourgeois, L. Calvin, J. Carderelli, N. Cavanagh, S. J. D. Dann, R. Fitzgarrald, E. Gerstmayr, A. S. Joglekar, B. Kettle, P. Mckenna, C. D. Murphy, Z. Najmudin, P. Parsons, Q. Qian, P. P. Rajeev, C. P. Ridgers, D. R. Symes, A. G. R. Thomas, G. Sarri, S. P. D. Mangles
Summary: A variational convolutional neural network model was created to predict the electron spectrum generated by a GeV-class laser wakefield accelerator. An ensemble of trained networks was used to provide an estimation of the uncertainty of the prediction. This model offers insights into the scaling of electron beam properties due to stochastic fluctuations.
HIGH POWER LASER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
C. B. Schroeder, F. Albert, C. Benedetti, J. Bromage, D. Bruhwiler, S. S. Bulanov, E. M. Campbell, N. M. Cook, B. Cros, M. C. Downer, E. Esarey, D. H. Froula, M. Fuchs, C. G. R. Geddes, S. J. Gessner, A. J. Gonsalves, M. J. Hogan, S. M. Hooker, A. Huebl, C. Jing, C. Joshi, K. Krushelnick, W. P. Leemans, R. Lehe, A. R. Maier, H. M. Milchberg, W. B. Mori, K. Nakamura, J. Osterhoff, J. P. Palastro, M. Palmer, K. Poder, J. G. Power, B. A. Shadwick, D. Terzani, M. Thevenet, A. G. R. Thomas, j. van Tilborg, M. Turner, N. Vafaei-Najafabadi, J. -l. Vay, T. Zhou, J. Zuegel
Summary: Laser-plasma accelerators have high accelerating fields and can accelerate short particle bunches, making them a promising and cost-effective technology for high-energy linear colliders. This paper discusses the motivation, status, and potential concepts of a laser-plasma-accelerator-based linear collider up to 15 TeV. It outlines the research and development path and highlights the near-term and mid-term applications of this technology in collider development. The required experimental facilities are also described, and community recommendations from Snowmass are presented.
JOURNAL OF INSTRUMENTATION
(2023)
Article
Instruments & Instrumentation
F. Filippi, L. T. Dickson, M. Backhouse, P. Forestier-Colleoni, C. Gustafsson, C. Cobo, C. Ballage, S. Dobosz Dufrenoy, E. Lofquist, G. Maynard, C. D. Murphy, Z. Najmudin, F. Panza, A. Persson, M. Sciscio, O. Vasilovici, O. Lundh, B. Cros
Summary: Laser-driven plasma wakefields can generate high-energy electron beams in a compact size. Controlling and stabilizing the acceleration process through manipulating the plasma density using a gas cell is crucial for optimizing electron beam performance.
JOURNAL OF INSTRUMENTATION
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
R. T. Sandberg, A. G. R. Thomas
Summary: The propagating density gradients of a plasma wakefield can frequency upshift a trailing witness laser pulse through a process called photon acceleration. By using a tailored density profile, we can find phase-matching conditions for the pulse. Analyzing a 1D nonlinear plasma wake with an electron beam driver, we discovered that the frequency shift is unlimited as long as the wake can be sustained, even though the plasma density decreases. Simulation results demonstrated frequency shifts of more than 40 times in fully self-consistent 1D particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations, and up to 10 times in quasi-3D PIC simulations.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
M. W. von der Leyen, J. Holloway, Y. Ma, P. T. Campbell, R. Aboushelbaya, Q. Qian, A. F. Antoine, M. Balcazar, J. Cardarelli, Q. Feng, R. Fitzgarrald, B. X. Hou, G. Kalinchenko, J. Latham, A. M. Maksimchuk, A. McKelvey, J. Nees, I. Ouatu, R. W. Paddock, B. Spiers, A. G. R. Thomas, R. Timmis, K. Krushelnick, P. A. Norreys
Summary: In this study, we present new results for the generation and acceleration of quasimonoenergetic electron beams in low amplitude wakefields, both experimentally and through simulations. These results are achieved by using two laser pulses to decouple wakefield generation from electron trapping via ionization injection. It is found that the injection duration, which affects beam charge and energy spread, can be tuned by adjusting the relative pulse delay. Changing the polarization of the injector pulse and reducing ionization volume improves the electron spectra of the accelerated electron bunches.
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Yu-Hsin Chen, Antonio C. Ting, Bahman Hafizi, Michael H. Helle, Luke A. Johnson, Mikhail N. Polyanskiy, Igor V. Pogorelsky, Marcus Babzien, Nicholas P. Dover, Oliver C. Ettlinger, George S. Hicks, Emma-Jane Ditter, Zulfikar Najmudin, Daniel F. Gordon
Summary: We present the results of proton acceleration from hydrogen plasmas irradiated by intense CO2 laser, with the density gradient modified by Nd:YAG laser ablation-driven hydrodynamic shocks. The experimental results agree well with the simulations, but certain laser shots produced unexpectedly high proton energies. This might be attributed to nonlinear propagation effects and focusing of laser pulses through the plasma channel formed by preceding pulses.
PHYSICS OF PLASMAS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
R. Nies, K. Krushelnick, A. G. R. Thomas
Summary: The next generation of multipetawatt laser facilities could bring new opportunities in radiation-pressure driven ion-acceleration. By analyzing the Doppler downshifted light reflected from a moving solid foil target, the ion energies in the acceleration mechanism can be diagnosed. The potential use of back-scattered light to generate long-wavelength few-cycle pulses in ion acceleration experiments is also explored. Theoretical extensions and simulations support these findings.
PLASMA PHYSICS AND CONTROLLED FUSION
(2023)
Article
Optics
Nicholas P. P. Dover, Tim Ziegler, Stefan Assenbaum, Constantin Bernert, Stefan Bock, Florian-Emanuel Brack, Thomas E. E. Cowan, Emma J. J. Ditter, Marco Garten, Lennart Gaus, Ilja Goethel, George S. S. Hicks, Hiromitsu Kiriyama, Thomas Kluge, James K. K. Koga, Akira Kon, Kotaro Kondo, Stephan Kraft, Florian Kroll, Hazel F. F. Lowe, Josefine Metzkes-Ng, Tatsuhiko Miyatake, Zulfikar Najmudin, Thomas Pueschel, Martin Rehwald, Marvin Reimold, Hironao Sakaki, Hans-Peter Schlenvoigt, Keiichiro Shiokawa, Marvin E. P. Umlandt, Ulrich Schramm, Karl Zeil, Mamiko Nishiuchi
Summary: Laser-driven ion sources are a rapidly developing technology that can produce high energy, high peak current beams. In this study, we demonstrate the generation of high energy protons and carbon ions using sub-micrometer thickness Formvar foils irradiated with intense laser beams. The acceleration mechanism involves a rapid expulsion of electrons from the target bulk due to relativistically induced transparency. We replicate the mechanism on two different laser facilities and show that the optimum target thickness decreases with improved laser contrast.
LIGHT-SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
Daniel Seipt, Alec G. R. Thomas
Summary: The investigation of spin and polarization effects in ultra-high intensity laser-plasma and laser-beam interactions has become an emergent topic in high-field science. In this study, a relativistic kinetic description of spin-polarized plasmas is derived, taking quantum electrodynamics effects into account. The emergence of anomalous precession in a strong background field is investigated. The interplay between radiation reaction effects and the spin polarization of radiating particles is explored.
PHYSICS OF PLASMAS
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Adam Doherty, Sylvain Fourmaux, Alberto Astolfo, Ralf Ziesche, Jonathan Wood, Oliver Finlay, Wiebe Stolpe, Darren Batey, Ingo Manke, Francois Legare, Matthieu Boone, Dan Symes, Zulfikar Najmudin, Marco Endrizzi, Alessandro Olivo, Silvia Cipiccia
Summary: Laser-plasma accelerators offer compact and embedded betatron X-ray sources with small size and ultrashort pulse length. This paper combines edge illumination-beam tracking technique with a compact plasma X-ray source to demonstrate multimodal imaging down to the femtosecond timescale.
COMMUNICATIONS PHYSICS
(2023)
Correction
Optics
N. Xu, M. J. V. Streeter, O. C. Ettlinger, H. Ahmed, S. Astbury, M. Borghesi, N. Bourgeois, C. B. Curry, S. J. D. Dann, N. P. Dover, T. Dzelzainis, V. Istokskaia, M. Gauthier, L. Giuffrida, G. D. Glenn, S. H. Glenzer, R. J. Gray, J. S. Green, G. S. Hicks, C. Hyland, M. King, B. Loughran, D. Margarone, O. McCusker, P. McKenna, C. Parisuana, P. Parsons, C. Spindloe, D. R. Symes, F. Treffert, C. A. J. Palmer, Z. Najmudin
HIGH POWER LASER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Optics
B. Loughran, M. J. V. Streeter, H. Ahmed, S. Astbury, M. Balcazar, M. Borghesi, N. Bourgeois, C. B. Curry, S. J. D. Dann, S. DiIorio, N. P. Dover, T. Dzelzainis, O. C. Ettlinger, M. Gauthier, L. Giuffrida, G. D. Glenn, S. H. Glenzer, J. S. Green, R. J. Gray, G. S. Hicks, C. Hyland, V. Istokskaia, M. King, D. Margarone, O. McCusker, P. McKenna, Z. Najmudin, C. Parisuana, P. Parsons, C. Spindloe, D. R. Symes, A. G. R. Thomas, F. Treffert, N. Xu, C. A. J. Palmer
Summary: The combination of high repetition-rate (HRR) lasers and machine learning allows for automated and high-fidelity parameter scans, revealing the influence of laser intensity on target pre-heating and proton generation. By controlling the laser wavefront and target position, the maximum proton energy can be optimized through closed-loop Bayesian optimization, achieving equivalent performance with only 60% of the laser energy compared to manually optimized laser pulses. This demonstration of automated optimization of laser-driven proton beams is a crucial step towards gaining deeper physical insight and constructing future radiation sources.
HIGH POWER LASER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Physics, Fluids & Plasmas
R. T. Sandberg, A. G. R. Thomas
Summary: This paper proposes a scheme to generate ultrashort, high energy pulses of XUV photons through dephasingless photon acceleration in a beam-driven plasma wakefield. Particle-in-cell simulations are used to study the limits, practical realization, and 3D considerations for this scheme.
PHYSICS OF PLASMAS
(2023)
