Enhanced single-stage laser-driven electron acceleration by self-controlled ionization injection

Opt Express. 2014 Dec 1;22(24):29578-86. doi: 10.1364/OE.22.029578.

Abstract

We report on overall enhancement of a single-stage laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) using the ionization injection in a mixture of 0.3% nitrogen gas in 99.7% helium gas. Upon the interaction of 30-TW, 30-fs laser pulses with a gas jet of the above gas mixture, >300 MeV electron beams were generated at a helium plasma densities of 3.3-8.5 × 10(18) cm(-3). Compared with the uncontrolled electron self-injection in pure helium gas jet, the ionization injection process due to the presence of ultra-low nitrogen concentrations appears to be self-controlled; it has led to the generation of electron beams with higher energies, higher charge, lower density threshold for trapping, and a narrower energy spread without dark current (low energy electrons) or multiple bunches. It is foreseen that further optimization of such a scheme is expected to bring the electron beam energy-spread down to 1%, making them suitable for driving ultra-compact free-electron lasers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electrons*
  • Ions
  • Lasers*
  • Plasma Gases / chemistry
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • Ions
  • Plasma Gases