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GeV Electron Acceleration by Self-waveguiding Pulses

ORAL

Abstract

We present the first demonstration of multi-GeV LWFA in a fully optically formed plasma waveguide. On the ALEPH laser at CSU, novel waveguiding techniques [1,2], were applied to PW-scale pulses over 20 cm, driving GeV electron acceleration. Employing the self-waveguiding method [2], a J0 Bessel beam is formed along an extended gas jet composed of a 0.5 cm Ar-doped H2 ionization injection region and 19.5 cm pure H2 guiding section (H2 density~1018 cm-3).  This ‘index structuring’ J0 beam ionizes a plasma column which expands outwards, driving a shock in the neutral gas at the plasma boundary. A high intensity pulse (1019 W/cm2, 35 μm waist) is then injected into the prepared index profile. The leading edge of the pulse ionizes the neutral shock, generating an “on-the-fly” waveguiding structure for the rest of the pulse. Concurrently, the peak of the pulse drives a wakefield in the plasma along the axis.

We present guided pulse output spectra and modes, plasma waveguide interferometry, accelerated electron spectra, and simulations fully mapping the channel formation and LWFA processes.  

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Publication: [1] B. Miao, L. Feder, J. E. Shrock, A. Goffin, and H. M. Milchberg, Optical Guiding in Meter-Scale Plasma Waveguides, Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 074801 (2020).<br>[2] L. Feder, B. Miao, J. E. Shrock, A. Goffin, and H. M. Milchberg, Self-waveguiding of relativistic laser pulses in neutral gas channels, Phys. Rev. Research 2, 043173 (2020).

Presenters

  • Jaron E Shrock

    University of Maryland, College Park

Authors

  • Jaron E Shrock

    University of Maryland, College Park

  • Linus Feder

    University of Maryland, College Park

  • Bo Miao

    University of Maryland, College Park

  • Alexander Picksley

    Oxford University

  • Simon Hooker

    Oxford University

  • Shoujun Wang

    Colorado State University, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA

  • Reed C Hollinger

    Colorado State University, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA

  • Huanyu Song

    Colorado State University, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA

  • Ryan Nedbailo

    Colorado State University, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA

  • John Morrison

    Colorado State University

  • Jorge J Rocca

    Colorado State University, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80521 USA

  • Howard M Milchberg

    University of Maryland, College Park