EXCITATION OF WAKEFIELD AND ELECTRON ACCELERATION BY SHORT MICROWAVE PULSE

Non-linear large amplitude ion wave excitation by short microwave puls e at the resonance absorption region has been observed. The maximum am plitude of the wave is delta n/n approximate to 40% in peak-to-peak, w hen a short microwave pulse of the order of or less than a period of i on oscillation (tau(i) = 2 pi/omega(pi)) is used. The excited wave pro pagates to lower density regions and its velocity is a function of its amplitude, nu proportional to (delta n/n(o))(2.2)-(2.7). At the same time, a strong electron wave is excited after shut-off of the incident microwave pulse and high energy electrons are emitted and accelerated by the excited electron wave wakefield.