Probing plasma wakefields using electron bunches generated from a laser wakefield accelerator. (1st March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, C J; Wan, Y; Guo, B; Hua, J F; Pai, C-H; Li, F; Zhang, J; Ma, Y; Wu, Y P; Xu, X L; Mori, W B; Chu, H-H; Wang, J; Lu, W; Joshi, C
• Is Part Of: Plasma physics and controlled fusion. Volume 60:Number 4(2018:Apr.)
• Publication Date: 2018-03-01
• Subjects: laser wakefield accelerator -- plasma -- wakefield structure -- electron probe; Plasma (Ionized gases) -- Periodicals; Controlled fusion -- Periodicals; 530.44
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6587/aaabfd
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0741-3335

Abstract

Abstract: We show experimental results of probing the electric field structure of plasma wakes by using femtosecond relativistic electron bunches generated from a laser wakefield accelerator. Snapshots of laser-driven linear wakes in plasmas with different densities and density gradients are captured. The spatiotemporal evolution of the wake in a plasma density up-ramp is recorded. Two parallel wakes driven by a laser with a main spot and sidelobes are identified in the experiment and reproduced in simulations. The capability of this new method for capturing the electron- and positron-driven wakes is also shown via 3D particle-in-cell simulations.