A spectral, quasi-cylindrical and dispersion-free Particle-In-Cell algorithm

We propose a spectral Particle-In-Cell (PIC) algorithm that is based on the combination of a Hankel transform and a Fourier transform. For physical problems that have close-to-cylindrical symmetry, this algorithm can be much faster than full 3D PIC algorithms. In addition, unlike standard finite-difference PIC codes, the proposed algorithm is free of numerical dispersion. This algorithm is benchmarked in several situations that are of interest for laser-plasma interactions. These benchmarks show that it avoids a number of numerical artifacts, that would otherwise affect the physics in a standard PIC algorithm - including the zero-order numerical Cherenkov effect.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figure

Laser-plasma interactions with a Fourier-Bessel Particle-in-Cell method

A new spectral particle-in-cell (PIC) method for plasma modeling is presented and discussed. In the proposed scheme, the Fourier-Bessel transform is used to translate the Maxwell equations to the quasi-cylindrical spectral domain. In this domain, the equations are solved analytically in time, and the spatial derivatives are approximated with high accuracy. In contrast to the finite-difference time domain (FDTD) methods that are commonly used in PIC, the developed method does not produce numerical dispersion, and does not involve grid staggering for the electric and magnetic fields. These features are especially valuable in modeling the wakefield acceleration of particles in plasmas. The proposed algorithm is implemented in the code PLARES-PIC, and the test simulations of laser plasma interactions are compared to the ones done with the quasi-cylindrical FDTD PIC code CALDER-CIRC.Comment: submitted to Phys. Plasma

Four-loop verification of algorithm for Feynman diagrams summation in N=1 supersymmetric electrodynamics

A method of Feynman diagrams summation, based on using Schwinger-Dyson equations and Ward identities, is verified by calculating some four-loop diagrams in N=1 supersymmetric electrodynamics, regularized by higher derivatives. In particular, for the considered diagrams correctness of an additional identity for Green functions, which is not reduced to the gauge Ward identity, is proved.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figure

Coherence and superradiance from a plasma-based quasiparticle accelerator

Coherent light sources, such as free electron lasers, provide bright beams for biology, chemistry, physics, and advanced technological applications. Increasing the brightness of these sources requires progressively larger devices, with the largest being several km long (e.g., LCLS). Can we reverse this trend, and bring these sources to the many thousands of labs spanning universities, hospitals, and industry? Here we address this long-standing question by rethinking basic principles of radiation physics. At the core of our work is the introduction of quasi-particle-based light sources that rely on the collective and macroscopic motion of an ensemble of light-emitting charges to evolve and radiate in ways that would be unphysical when considering single charges. The underlying concept allows for temporal coherence and superradiance in fundamentally new configurations, providing radiation with clear experimental signatures and revolutionary properties. The underlying concept is illustrated with plasma accelerators but extends well beyond this case, such as to nonlinear optical configurations. The simplicity of the quasi-particle approach makes it suitable for experimental demonstrations at existing laser and accelerator facilities.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figure