Electron acceleration by laser plasma wedge interaction

2022/02/16 by Marini, S., Kleij, P. S., Grech, M. +2
#FOS: Physical sciences #Plasma Physics (physics.plasm-ph)

paper · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2202.08226

Abstract

A new electron acceleration mechanism is identified that develops when a relativistically intense laser irradiates the wedge of an over-dense plasma. This induces a diffracted electromagnetic wave with a significant longitudinal electric field that accelerates electrons from the plasma over long distances to relativistic energies. Well collimated, highly-charged (nC) electron bunches with energies up to 100's MeV are obtained using a laser beam with I λ₀² =3.5× 10¹⁹ \rm W μm²/cm². Multi-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations, supported by a simple analytical model, confirm the efficiency and robustness of the proposed acceleration scheme.

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