On estimation of betatron radiation spectrum characteristics of DLA electrons in NCD plasma

Abstract

Action of a relativistically intense subpicosecond laser pulse on the near critical density (NCD) plasma can give rise to the formation of ion channel inside the plasma and effective acceleration of background electrons. Thus, one can produce high current (electron charges from tens nCl to several mkCl), high energy (from several MeV to several hundreds of MeV) electron bunches, demanded in different practical applications. Synchrotron (betatron) radiation of these electrons can serve as an important tool both for practical applications and also for diagnostic of the process in laser plasma, which is important for better understanding of these processes and for optimization of experimental conditions. For the last goals, an approximate model is proposed for calculating the spatial and energy characteristics of a bunch of DLA (direct laser accelerated) electrons in the ion channel formed in the NCD plasma and the characteristics describing the spectrum of their synchrotron radiation. For the considered example of a powerful laser pulse action on NCD plasma, the predictions of the proposed model are in good agreement with the results of particles in cell simulations and with the experimental measurements of the synchrotron radiation specter. It is shown that with the assumption of the rotation of the initial plane of motion of DLA electrons, the experimental data on the measurements of synchrotron radiation specters can be explained on the basis of the concept of betatron radiation of electrons accelerated in NCD plasma by DLA mechanism.