Electron Acceleration by a Laser Wakefield in a Relativistically Self-Guided Channel

Authors

R. Wagner, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Shouyuan Chen, University of Michigan-Ann ArborFollow
Anatoly Maksimchuk, University of MichiganFollow
Donald P. Umstadter, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

4-21-1997

Comments

Published by American Physical Society. Physical Review Letters vol.78, no.16; 21 April 1997; p.3125-8. http://prl.aps.org. Copyright © 1997 American Physical Society. Permission to use.

Abstract

Acceleration of electrons to relativistic energies by a multidimensional self-modulated laser wakefield is discussed. Above a power threshold, a relativistically self-guided channel from an intense ultrashort laser pulse (l∼4×10¹⁸ W/cm², λ = 1 μm, τ = 400 fs) was found to increase the laser propagation distance, decrease the electron beam divergence, and increase the energy of the electrons. These electron beam effects occurred even though the propagation distance became significantly longer than the conventional dephasing length.