120 research outputs found
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
Low transverse emittance electron bunches from two-color laser-ionization injection
A method is proposed to generate low emittance electron bunches from two
color laser pulses in a laser-plasma accelerator. A two-region gas structure is
used, containing a short region of a high-Z gas (e.g., krypton) for ionization
injection, followed by a longer region of a low-Z gas for post-acceleration. A
long-laser-wavelength (e.g., 5 micron) pump pulse excites plasma wake without
triggering the inner-shell electron ionization of the high-Z gas due to low
electric fields. A short-laser-wavelength (e.g., 0.4 micron) injection pulse,
located at a trapping phase of the wake, ionizes the inner-shell electrons of
the high-Z gas, resulting in ionization-induced trapping. Compared with a
single-pulse ionization injection, this scheme offers an order of magnitude
smaller residual transverse momentum of the electron bunch, which is a result
of the smaller vector potential amplitude of the injection pulse
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Laser and electron deflection from transverse asymmetries in laser-plasma accelerators.
We report on the deflection of laser pulses and accelerated electrons in a laser-plasma accelerator (LPA) by the effects of laser pulse front tilt and transverse density gradients. Asymmetry in the plasma index of refraction leads to laser steering, which can be due to a density gradient or spatiotemporal coupling of the laser pulse. The transverse forces from the skewed plasma wave can also lead to electron deflection relative to the laser. Quantitative models are proposed for both the laser and electron steering, which are confirmed by particle-in-cell simulations. Experiments with the BELLA Petawatt Laser are presented which show controllable 0.1-1 mrad laser and electron beam deflection from laser pulse front tilt. This has potential applications for electron beam pointing control, which is of paramount importance for LPA applications
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