Observation of Optical Bullets formed in Laser-driven Plasma Bubble Accelerators

ORAL

Abstract

Laser-driven plasma ``bubble'' electron accelerators, a nonlinear regime of the laser wakefield accelerator, have produced collimated, nearly mono-energetic relativistic electron beams up to 1 GeV energy in millimeter acceleration lengths. To date the bubble's spatio-temporal structure has been accessible only from intensive computer simulations based on estimated initial conditions. Here we demonstrate direct, non-invasive, single-shot visualization of bubbles in plasmas of density n$_{e} \quad >$ 10$^{19}$ cm$^{-3}$, whether or not the bubbles produce relativistic electrons, by observing ``bullets'' of light that the bubble trap, focus and compress from co-propagating probe pulses. We correlate these bullets with relativistic electrons that the bubble captured and accelerated. Frequency Domain Holography (FDH),used previously to visualize weakly nonlinear sinusoidal wakes in plasmas of density n$_{e} \quad <$ 0.6 $\times $ 10$^{19}$ cm$^{-3}$, are tweaked to work in this high density regime.

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Authors

  • P. Dong

    Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster

  • Sacha Kopp

    Texas Lutheran, Texas Lutheran University, Bastrop ISD, Lego Education, LEGO Education, South Texas Chapter, Health Physics Society, Waxahachie Early College High School, Navarro College, and Texas A\&M Commerce, PTRA/AAPT, National Instruments, Department of Physics, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University - Commerce, University of Dallas, Austin Community College, Angelo State University, K-12 Science Consultant Birdville ISD, Energy Institute, University of Texas at Austin, Southern Univertisy Baton Rouge, Univ. of Arkansas, Univ. of Central Florida, JQI, NIST and Univ. of Maryland, UT Austin, Center for Ultrafast Optical Science, University of Michigan, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin, Lockheed Martin, NASA, South Plains College, LBNL-ALS, Berkeley, Denison U., Granville, U. of Nevada, Reno, Justus-Liebig-Universitat, Giessen, Western Michigan U., Kalamazoo, University of Texas at Austin, Department of Physics, Institute for Applied Physics, University of Muenster