On the origin of super-hot electrons from intense laser interactions with solid targets having moderate scale length preformed plasmas

Krygier, A.; Schumacher, Douglass; Freeman, R. R.

doi:10.1063/1.4866587

Cited by 53 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…(15). Taking into account this estimate and the expression for γ vac , we find that the role of the superluminosity is negligible for 23 Ultimately, the superluminosity sets a limit on the energy gain from the wave.…”

Section: Role Of the Superluminal Phase Velocitymentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The resulting energy increase in both cases is in good agreement with Eq. (15). In order to examine how this mechanism is realized in a plasma channel, we have performed a 2D PIC simulation in which a long laser pulse with an electric field polarized perpendicular to the plane of the simulation irradiates a plasma slab with n e = 0.05n c .…”

Section: Role Of the Quasi-static Longitudinal Electric Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…By expelling some of the electrons radially, the laser creates a positively charged elongated channel in the plasma with quasi-static transverse and longitudinal electric fields. New electrons are continuously injected into the channel, typically through the channel opening 14,15 , and then get accelerated and pushed forward by the laser pulse in the presence of the quasi-static fields. The described regime is often broadly referred to as the direct laser acceleration regime.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beyond the ponderomotive limit: Direct laser acceleration of relativistic electrons in sub-critical plasmas

et al. 2016

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We examine a regime in which a linearly-polarized laser pulse with relativistic intensity irradiates a subcritical plasma for much longer than the characteristic electron response time. A steady-state channel is formed in the plasma in this case with quasi-static transverse and longitudinal electric fields. These relatively weak fields significantly alter the electron dynamics. The longitudinal electric field reduces the longitudinal dephasing between the electron and the wave, leading to an enhancement of the electron energy gain from the pulse. The energy gain in this regime is ultimately limited by the superluminosity of the wave fronts induced by the plasma in the channel. The transverse electric field alters the oscillations of the transverse electron velocity, allowing it to remain anti-parallel to laser electric field and leading to a significant energy gain. The energy enhancement is accompanied by development of significant oscillations perpendicular to the plane of the driven motion, making trajectories of energetic electrons three-dimensional. Proper electron injection into the laser beam can further boost the electron energy gain.

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Section: Role Of the Superluminal Phase Velocitymentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Role Of the Quasi-static Longitudinal Electric Fieldmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beyond the ponderomotive limit: Direct laser acceleration of relativistic electrons in sub-critical plasmas

et al. 2016

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“…In this paper, we examine single electron dynamics in such a channel and determine the conditions for significant enhancement in electron energy gain as compared to the case of electron acceleration in a vacuum. Other scenarios of electron acceleration in sub-critical plasmas have also been proposed and researched Sheng et al 2002;Chen et al 2006;Gaillard et al 2011;Naseri et al 2012;Paradkar et al 2012;Willingale et al 2013;Krygier et al 2014). The goal of this paper is not to provide a comprehensive overview of these scenarios, but rather to present a structured review of our recent research and new findings regarding electron acceleration in a steady-state plasma channel.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Novel aspects of direct laser acceleration of relativistic electrons

2015

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We examine the impact of several factors on electron acceleration by a laser pulse and the resulting electron energy gain. Specifically, we consider the role played by: (1) static longitudinal electric field, (2) static transverse electric field, (3) electron injection into the laser pulse, and (4) static longitudinal magnetic field. It is shown that all of these factors lead, under certain conditions, to a considerable electron energy gain from the laser pulse. In contrast with other mechanisms such as wakefield acceleration, the static electric fields in this case do not directly transfer substantial energy to the electron. Instead, they reduce the longitudinal dephasing between the electron and the laser beam, which then allows the electron to gain extra energy from the beam. The mechanisms discussed here are relevant to experiments with under-dense gas jets, as well as to experiments with solid-density targets involving an extended pre-plasma.

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“…Both the relevance of the discussed regime to a range of applications and its potential to generate energetic electrons and to boost the x-ray emission have renewed interest in exploring mechanisms of electron acceleration in plasma channels [15][16][17][18][19] . When analyzing the dynamics of electrons accelerated by a linearly polarized laser pulse inside a channel, i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spontaneous emergence of non-planar electron orbits during direct laser acceleration by a linearly polarized laser pulse

et al. 2016

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An electron irradiated by a linearly polarized relativistic intensity laser pulse in a cylindrical plasma channel can gain significant energy from the pulse. The laser electric and magnetic fields drive electron oscillations in a plane making it natural to expect the electron trajectory to be flat. We show that strong modulations of the relativistic γ-factor associated with the energy enhancement cause the free oscillations perpendicular to the plane of the driven motion to become unstable. As a consequence, out of plane displacements grow to become comparable to the amplitude of the driven oscillations and the electron trajectory becomes essentially three-dimensional, even if at an early stage of the acceleration it was flat. The development of the instability profoundly affects the x-ray emission, causing considerable divergence of the radiation perpendicular to the plane of the driven oscillations, while also reducing the overall emitted energy.

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On the origin of super-hot electrons from intense laser interactions with solid targets having moderate scale length preformed plasmas

Cited by 53 publications

References 46 publications

Beyond the ponderomotive limit: Direct laser acceleration of relativistic electrons in sub-critical plasmas

Beyond the ponderomotive limit: Direct laser acceleration of relativistic electrons in sub-critical plasmas

Novel aspects of direct laser acceleration of relativistic electrons

Spontaneous emergence of non-planar electron orbits during direct laser acceleration by a linearly polarized laser pulse

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