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.  

*Work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy (DESC0015516 and LaserNetUS grant DE-SC0021246), and the National Science Foundation (PHY2010511). Travel support provided by DOE under FWP# SCW1668.

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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).
[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