Direct Observation of Plasma Waves and Dynamics Induced by Laser-Accelerated Electron Beams

Gilljohann, M. F.; Ding, H.; Doepp, A.; Götzfried, J.; Schindler, S.; Schilling, G.; Corde, S.; Debus, A.; Heinemann, T.; Hidding, B.; Hooker, S. M.; Irman, A.; Kononenko, O.; Kurz, T.; de la Ossa, A. Martinez; Schramm, U. und Karsch, S. (2019): Direct Observation of Plasma Waves and Dynamics Induced by Laser-Accelerated Electron Beams. In: Physical Review X, Bd. 9, Nr. 1, 011046

Abstract

Plasma wakefield acceleration (PWFA) is a novel acceleration technique with promising prospects for both particle colliders and light sources. However, PWFA research has so far been limited to a few largescale accelerator facilities worldwide. Here, we present first results on plasma wakefield generation using electron beams accelerated with a 100-TW-class Ti:sapphire laser. Because of their ultrashort duration and high charge density, the laser-accelerated electron bunches are suitable to drive plasma waves at electron densities in the order of 10(19) cm(-3). We capture the beam-induced plasma dynamics with femtosecond resolution using few-cycle optical probing and, in addition to the plasma wave itself, we observe a distinctive transverse ion motion in its trail. This previously unobserved phenomenon can be explained by the ponderomotive force of the plasma wave acting on the ions, resulting in a modulation of the plasma density over many picoseconds. Because of the scaling laws of plasma wakefield generation, results obtained at high plasma density using high-current laser-accelerated electron beams can be readily scaled to low-density systems. Laser-driven PWFA experiments can thus act as miniature models for their larger, conventional counterparts. Furthermore, our results pave the way towards a novel generation of laser-driven PWFA, which can potentially provide ultralow emittance beams within a compact setup.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Physik
• Themengebiete: 500 Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik > 530 Physik
• ISSN: 2160-3308
• Sprache: Englisch