Open AccessElectron acceleration by a radially-polarized laser pulse in a plasma micro-channel
Author(s) -
Meng Wen,
Yousef I. Salamin,
Christoph H. Keitel
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.000557
Subject(s) - plasma channel , laser , acceleration , optics , plasma , plasma acceleration , thermal emittance , physics , pulse (music) , electron , beam (structure) , classical mechanics , quantum mechanics , detector
Encouraged by recent advances in radially-polarized laser technology, simulations have been performed of electron acceleration by a tightly-focused, ultra-short pulse in a parabolic plasma micro-channel. Milli-joule laser pulses, generated at kHz repetition rates, are shown to produce electron bunches of MeV energy, pC charge, low emittance and low divergence. The pivotal role played by the channel length in controlling the process is demonstrated, and the roles of direct and wakefield acceleration are distinguished.