Plasma waveguide generation with diffractive logarithmic axicon

The use of plasma waveguides in Laser Wakefield Acceleration (LWFA) offers a compelling approach for achieving enhanced electron acceleration by enabling extended laser-plasma interaction lengths [1,2]. This poster explores the utilization of a logarithmic diffractive axicon in order to improve the longitudinal uniformity of the plasma and regularize the guiding and acceleration processes in LWFA.

Logarithmic axicons have logarithmically varying radial phase function, engineered based on radial to axial mapping of energy [3]. The spot size of the Bessel-like beam generated through this type of axicon stays nearly constant in an extended focal range but maintains a much more constant intensity than the Bessel beams formed with a classical axicon. We demonstrate fabrication and characterization of a diffractive logarithmic axicon as well as generation of a meter-scale plasma waveguide structure.

References:

1. Feder, L. et al. (2020). Self-waveguiding of relativistic laser pulses in neutral gas channels. Physical Review Research, 2(4).

2. Miao, B. et al. (2022). Multi-GeV Electron Bunches from an All-Optical Laser Wakefield Accelerator. Physical Review X, 12(3).

3. Sochacki, J. et al. (1992). Nonparaxial design of generalized axicons. Applied Optics, 31(25), 5326.