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The Ion Channel Laser: Advances in Theory and Simulation

ORAL

Abstract

The ion channel laser (ICL) is an alternative to the free electron laser (FEL) that uses the electric fields in an ion channel rather than the magnetic fields in an undulator to transversely oscillate a relativistic electron beam and produce coherent radiation. The strong focusing force of the ion channel leads to a Pierce parameter more than an order of magnitude larger than the typical values associated with FELs. This allows the ICL to lase in an extremely short distance while using electron beams with an energy spread of up to a few percent. The ICL may thus be able to accommodate beams that can be produced by laser wakefield accelerators today. ICLs have several practical challenges, however, including stringent constraints on the beam's transverse phase space and unique physics in the high K regime. We discuss recent advances in the physics of the ion channel laser as well as experimental plans at SLAC's FACET-II facility and the potential for future plasma plasma based light sources.

Presenters

  • Claire Hansel

    California State University, Los Angeles, University of Colorado Boulder

Authors

  • Claire Hansel

    California State University, Los Angeles, University of Colorado Boulder

  • Jacob R Pierce

    University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA Plasma Simulation Group, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Los Angeles, UCLA

  • Christopher Doss

    University of Colorado Boulder

  • Valentina Lee

    University of Colorado Boulder

  • Xinlu Xu

    Peking University

  • Zhirong Huang

    SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

  • Mark Hogan

    SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

  • Warren Mori

    University of California, Los Angeles, University of California Los Angeles

  • Michael D Litos

    University of Colorado Boulder