Laser wakefield-accelerated multi-GeV electrons using the Texas Petawatt Laser

ORAL

Abstract

Interaction of intense laser pulse and underdense plasma is a promising source for generating multi-GeV electrons beams within the compact confines of the lab. The quality of the electron beam, stability of the electron generation, and scalability to higher energies, are some of the challenges that are being met. We report on a laser wakefield acceleration experiment taking advantage of the powerful Texas Petawatt laser, and using relatively low plasma density together with ionization induced injection, to accelerate electrons. Self-focusing and self-guiding of the laser beam, self-injection and trapping of electrons, and some approaches to diagnostics of accelerated electrons are discussed.

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Authors

  • Neil Fazel

    Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin

  • Rafal Zgadzaj

    University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin

  • Xiaoming Wang

    Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712

  • Watson Henderson

    University of Texas at Austin

  • Peng Dong

    University of Texas at Austin

  • Allan Headley

    Texas A\&M, Sam Houston State University, Southern Methodist University, Dept of Physics, Texas Tech University, Depts of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, Texas Tech University HSC, Texas Tech University, Lee College, Texas A\&M University, Texas A\&M Univ.-Commerce, University of North Texas, Texas A\&M University and Princeton University, Princeton University, The University of North Texas, University of Texas at Austin, Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, UT Arlington, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University--Commerce, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Francis Marion University, University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas State University--San Marcos, UTSA, Northwestern University, Rice University, Abilene Christian University, Texas Southern University, Department of Physics, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas A\&M University Cyclotron Institute, Sciprint.org, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas at San Antonio, Paschal High School, Fort Worth, TX, Department d'Enginyeria Electronica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Department of Physics, Texas State University at San Marcos, Texas State University at San Marcos, Angelo State University, Texas State University-San Marcos, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas at Dallas, Physics, Viginia State University, Jefferson Laboratory, Trinity University, LIGO, UTB-TSC, Mount Holyoke College, Texas A&M University, Electrical and Computer Engineering, TAMU, American Institute of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, Paine College, Augusta, GA, Univ. of Edinburgh, INFN-LNS, INFN LNS CATANIA ITALY, Arkansas Technical University, AR, USA, Cyclotron Institute Texas A\&M University College Station Usa, and Heather Galloway, Texas State University--San Marcos

  • Richard Korzekwa

    Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712

  • Hai-En Tsai

    Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin

  • Austin Yi

    Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin

  • Vladimir Khudik

    Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin

  • Allan Headley

    Texas A\&M, Sam Houston State University, Southern Methodist University, Dept of Physics, Texas Tech University, Depts of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, Texas Tech University HSC, Texas Tech University, Lee College, Texas A\&M University, Texas A\&M Univ.-Commerce, University of North Texas, Texas A\&M University and Princeton University, Princeton University, The University of North Texas, University of Texas at Austin, Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, UT Arlington, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University--Commerce, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Francis Marion University, University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas State University--San Marcos, UTSA, Northwestern University, Rice University, Abilene Christian University, Texas Southern University, Department of Physics, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas A\&M University Cyclotron Institute, Sciprint.org, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas at San Antonio, Paschal High School, Fort Worth, TX, Department d'Enginyeria Electronica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Department of Physics, Texas State University at San Marcos, Texas State University at San Marcos, Angelo State University, Texas State University-San Marcos, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas at Dallas, Physics, Viginia State University, Jefferson Laboratory, Trinity University, LIGO, UTB-TSC, Mount Holyoke College, Texas A&M University, Electrical and Computer Engineering, TAMU, American Institute of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, Paine College, Augusta, GA, Univ. of Edinburgh, INFN-LNS, INFN LNS CATANIA ITALY, Arkansas Technical University, AR, USA, Cyclotron Institute Texas A\&M University College Station Usa, and Heather Galloway, Texas State University--San Marcos

  • Gillis Dyer

    Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin

  • Erhard Gaul

    Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin

  • Aaron Bernstein

    Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin

  • Mikael Martinez

    Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin

  • Ted Borger

    Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin

  • Allan Headley

    Texas A\&M, Sam Houston State University, Southern Methodist University, Dept of Physics, Texas Tech University, Depts of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, Texas Tech University HSC, Texas Tech University, Lee College, Texas A\&M University, Texas A\&M Univ.-Commerce, University of North Texas, Texas A\&M University and Princeton University, Princeton University, The University of North Texas, University of Texas at Austin, Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, UT Arlington, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University--Commerce, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Francis Marion University, University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas State University--San Marcos, UTSA, Northwestern University, Rice University, Abilene Christian University, Texas Southern University, Department of Physics, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas A\&M University Cyclotron Institute, Sciprint.org, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas at San Antonio, Paschal High School, Fort Worth, TX, Department d'Enginyeria Electronica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Department of Physics, Texas State University at San Marcos, Texas State University at San Marcos, Angelo State University, Texas State University-San Marcos, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas at Dallas, Physics, Viginia State University, Jefferson Laboratory, Trinity University, LIGO, UTB-TSC, Mount Holyoke College, Texas A&M University, Electrical and Computer Engineering, TAMU, American Institute of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, Paine College, Augusta, GA, Univ. of Edinburgh, INFN-LNS, INFN LNS CATANIA ITALY, Arkansas Technical University, AR, USA, Cyclotron Institute Texas A\&M University College Station Usa, and Heather Galloway, Texas State University--San Marcos

  • Doug Hammond

    Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin

  • Allan Headley

    Texas A\&M, Sam Houston State University, Southern Methodist University, Dept of Physics, Texas Tech University, Depts of Cell Physiology and Molecular Biophysics, Texas Tech University HSC, Texas Tech University, Lee College, Texas A\&M University, Texas A\&M Univ.-Commerce, University of North Texas, Texas A\&M University and Princeton University, Princeton University, The University of North Texas, University of Texas at Austin, Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin, Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, UT Arlington, Stephen F. Austin State University, Texas A&M University--Commerce, University of Texas at Dallas, University of Texas at El Paso, Department of Physics, The University of Texas at Dallas, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Francis Marion University, University of Texas at Brownsville, Texas State University--San Marcos, UTSA, Northwestern University, Rice University, Abilene Christian University, Texas Southern University, Department of Physics, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas A\&M University Cyclotron Institute, Sciprint.org, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Texas at San Antonio, Paschal High School, Fort Worth, TX, Department d'Enginyeria Electronica, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Department of Physics, Texas State University at San Marcos, Texas State University at San Marcos, Angelo State University, Texas State University-San Marcos, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, University of Texas at Dallas, Physics, Viginia State University, Jefferson Laboratory, Trinity University, LIGO, UTB-TSC, Mount Holyoke College, Texas A&M University, Electrical and Computer Engineering, TAMU, American Institute of Physics, University of Texas at Arlington, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, Paine College, Augusta, GA, Univ. of Edinburgh, INFN-LNS, INFN LNS CATANIA ITALY, Arkansas Technical University, AR, USA, Cyclotron Institute Texas A\&M University College Station Usa, and Heather Galloway, Texas State University--San Marcos

  • Srdjan Marijanovic

    Center for High Energy Density Science, University of Texas at Austin

  • Gennady Shvets

    University of Texas at Austin

  • Todd Ditmire

    University of Texas at Austin

  • Mike Downer

    University of Texas at Austin, Dept. of Physics, UT Austin, Institute for Fusion Studies, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712