Laser induced electron bunch generation using Deuterium clusters

Study of dynamics and energetics of laser-cluster interaction has led to various applications, including the production of mono-energetic electron bunches as a result of outer ionization of the cluster. These electron bunches can be further accelerated to higher energies via laser wakefield accelerators. In this work, we propose to study the interaction of intense, sub-cycle and few-cycles laser pulses with Deuterium clusters for production of mono-energetic electron bunches using 3D, relativistic molecular dynamics simulation. The pulse model used for study of laser-cluster interaction has been modified to generate two mutually perpendicularly polarized pulses separated by a finite temporal phase delay. The first pulse is responsible for creating electrons by field ionization of the cluster, while the second pulse tends to accelerate these electrons as a bunch. This electron bunch gets separated from the ionized cluster and can further undergo wakefield acceleration. The complete isolation of the bunch is possible due to the two mutually perpendicularly polarized pulses acting on it. We have also studied the effect of phase delay, pulse duration and peak laser intensity on generation of energetic electron bunches to find the optimum conditions for electron bunch production.