Observation of a hot high-current electron beam from a self-modulated laser wakefield accelerator

Authors
Santala, MIK Najmudin, Z Clark, EL Tatarakis, M Krushelnick, K Dangor, AE Malka, V Faure, J Allott, R Clarke, RJ
Citation
Mik. Santala et al., Observation of a hot high-current electron beam from a self-modulated laser wakefield accelerator, PHYS REV L, 86(7), 2001, pp. 1227-1230
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS
ISSN journal
00319007 → ACNP
Volume
86
Issue
7
Year of publication
2001
Pages
1227 - 1230
Database
ISI
SICI code
0031-9007(20010212)86:7<1227:OOAHHE>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
A highly relativistic electron beam produced by a 50 TW laser-plasma accele rator has been characterized by photonuclear techniques. The beam has large divergence that increases with plasma density. The electron yield also inc reases with plasma density and reaches up to 4 X 10(11) electrons (>10 MeV) , with beam current approaching the Alfven limit. Effective electron temper atures exceeding 8 MeV are found, leading to an order of magnitude higher p hotonuclear activation yield than in solid target experiments with the same laser system.