Experimental platform for dephasingless laser wakefield acceleration studies

POSTER

Abstract

Traditional laser wakefield accelerators (LWFAs) are limited in their performance by dephasing. Via spatiotemporal shaping of a laser pulse to produce an ultrafast flying focus [1,2], the accelerating phase of a LWFA can propagate through a plasma at any velocity; this overcomes dephasing. Recent simulations [3] have shown that in the bubble regime, a dephasingless LWFA driven by an ultrafast flying focus using a 6.2-J laser pulse can accelerate 25 pC of injected charge over 20 dephasing lengths (1.3 cm) to a maximum energy of 2.1 GeV. The work presented here describes the activation of a platform to study dephasingless laser wakefield acceleration (DLWFA) using the Multi-Terawatt (MTW) and Multi-Terawatt Optical Parametric Amplifier Line (MTW-OPAL) laser systems. Initial experimental results are presented.

*This material is based upon work supported by the Department of Energy Office of Fusion Energy under Award Number DE-SC0021057 and by the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration under Award Number DE-NA0004144.

Presenters

  • Manfred Virgil Ambat

    • University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics
    • University of Rochester

Authors

  • Manfred Virgil Ambat

    • University of Rochester, Laboratory for Laser Energetics
    • University of Rochester

  • Isabelle Alaine LaBelle

    • Utica College

  • Isabelle A Settle

    • University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics

  • Hans G Rinderknecht

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics - Rochester
    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE)

  • Jeremy J Pigeon

    • University of Rochester

  • John P Palastro

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
    • University of Rochester
    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE)

  • Kyle Glen Miller

    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
    • Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE)

  • Joshua Kendrick

    • University of Rochester

  • Mervin Lim Pac Chong

    • University of Rochester

  • Dustin H Froula

    • University of Rochester
    • University of Rochester - Laboratory for Laser Energetics

  • Jessica L Shaw

    • University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics
    • University of Rochester