132 research outputs found
3D printing of gas jet nozzles for laser-plasma accelerators
Recent results on laser wakefield acceleration in tailored plasma channels
have underlined the importance of controlling the density profile of the gas
target. In particular it was reported that appropriate density tailoring can
result in improved injection, acceleration and collimation of laser-accelerated
electron beams. To achieve such profiles innovative target designs are
required. For this purpose we have reviewed the usage of additive layer
manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, in order to produce gas jet
nozzles. Notably we have compared the performance of two industry standard
techniques, namely selective laser sintering (SLS) and stereolithography (SLA).
Furthermore we have used the common fused deposition modeling (FDM) to
reproduce basic gas jet designs and used SLA and SLS for more sophisticated
nozzle designs. The nozzles are characterized interferometrically and used for
electron acceleration experiments with the Salle Jaune terawatt laser at
Laboratoire d'Optique Appliqu\'ee
Energy boost in laser wakefield accelerators using sharp density transitions
The energy gain in laser wakefield accelerators is limited by dephasing
between the driving laser pulse and the highly relativistic electrons in its
wake. Since this phase depends on both the driver and the cavity length, the
effects of dephasing can be mitigated with appropriate tailoring of the plasma
density along propagation. Preceding studies have discussed the prospects of
continuous phase-locking in the linear wakefield regime. However, most
experiments are performed in the highly non-linear regime and rely on
self-guiding of the laser pulse. Due to the complexity of the driver evolution
in this regime it is much more difficult to achieve phase locking. As an
alternative we study the scenario of rapid rephasing in sharp density
transitions, as was recently demonstrated experimentally. Starting from a
phenomenological model we deduce expressions for the electron energy gain in
such density profiles. The results are in accordance with particle-in-cell
simulations and we present gain estimations for single and multiple stages of
rephasing
Response to tilted magnetic fields in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 with columnar defects: Evidence for transverse Meissner effect
The transverse Meissner effect (TME) in the highly layered superconductor
Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+y) with columnar defects is investigated by transport
measurements. We present detailed evidence for the persistence of the
Bose-glass phase when H is tilted at an angle theta < theta_c (T) away from the
column direction: (i) the variable-range vortex hopping process for low
currents crosses over to the half-loops regime for high currents; (ii) in both
regimes near theta_c(T) the energy barriers vanish linearly with tan(theta) ;
(iii) the transition temperature is governed by T_{BG}(0) -T_{BG}(theta) sim
|tan(theta)|^{1/\nu_{\perp}} with \nu_{\perp}=1.0 +/- 0.1. Furthermore, above
the transition as theta->\theta_c+, moving kink chains consistent with a
commensurate-incommensurate transition scenario are observed. These results
thereby clearly show the existence of the TME for theta < theta_c(T).Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX, 5 EPS figure
Effect of field tilting on the vortices in irradiated Bi-2212
We report on transport measurements in a Bi-2212 single crystal with columnar
defects parallel to the c-axis. The tilt of the magnetic field away from the
direction of the tracks is studied for filling factors f=B_z/B_phi<1. Near the
Bose Glass transition temperature T_BG, the angular scaling laws are verified
and we find the field independent critical exponents nu'=1.1 and z'=5.30.
Finally, above H_perpC we evidence the signature of a smectic-A like vortex
phase. These experimental results provide support for the Bose Glass theory.Comment: 2 pages LaTeX, 2 EPS figures, uses fleqn and espcrc2 style macros.
Submitted to Proceedings of M2S-HTSC-V
Femtosecond x rays from laser-plasma accelerators
Relativistic interaction of short-pulse lasers with underdense plasmas has
recently led to the emergence of a novel generation of femtosecond x-ray
sources. Based on radiation from electrons accelerated in plasma, these sources
have the common properties to be compact and to deliver collimated, incoherent
and femtosecond radiation. In this article we review, within a unified
formalism, the betatron radiation of trapped and accelerated electrons in the
so-called bubble regime, the synchrotron radiation of laser-accelerated
electrons in usual meter-scale undulators, the nonlinear Thomson scattering
from relativistic electrons oscillating in an intense laser field, and the
Thomson backscattered radiation of a laser beam by laser-accelerated electrons.
The underlying physics is presented using ideal models, the relevant parameters
are defined, and analytical expressions providing the features of the sources
are given. Numerical simulations and a summary of recent experimental results
on the different mechanisms are also presented. Each section ends with the
foreseen development of each scheme. Finally, one of the most promising
applications of laser-plasma accelerators is discussed: the realization of a
compact free-electron laser in the x-ray range of the spectrum. In the
conclusion, the relevant parameters characterizing each sources are summarized.
Considering typical laser-plasma interaction parameters obtained with currently
available lasers, examples of the source features are given. The sources are
then compared to each other in order to define their field of applications.Comment: 58 pages, 41 figure
Observation of longitudinal and transverse self-injections in laser-plasma accelerators
Laser-plasma accelerators can produce high quality electron beams, up to
giga-electronvolts in energy, from a centimeter scale device. The properties of
the electron beams and the accelerator stability are largely determined by the
injection stage of electrons into the accelerator. The simplest mechanism of
injection is self-injection, in which the wakefield is strong enough to trap
cold plasma electrons into the laser wake. The main drawback of this method is
its lack of shot-to-shot stability. Here we present experimental and numerical
results that demonstrate the existence of two different self-injection
mechanisms. Transverse self-injection is shown to lead to low stability and
poor quality electron beams, because of a strong dependence on the intensity
profile of the laser pulse. In contrast, longitudinal injection, which is
unambiguously observed for the first time, is shown to lead to much more stable
acceleration and higher quality electron beams.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure
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