Laser acceleration of electrons in vacuum
TL;DR: The vacuum beat wave accelerator (VBWA) concept is proposed and analyzed, and acceleration by two crossed beams is correctly described by the Lawson-Woodward theorem, and single-particle simulations confirm that substantial energy gains are possible and that optical components are not needed near the focal region.
Abstract: Several features of vacuum laser acceleration are reviewed, analyzed, and discussed, including electron acceleration by two crossed laser beams and acceleration by a higher-order Gaussian beam. In addition, the vacuum beat wave accelerator (VBWA) concept is proposed and analyzed. It is shown that acceleration by two crossed beams is correctly described by the Lawson-Woodward (LW) theorem, i.e., no net energy gain results for a relativistic electron interacting with the laser fields over an infinite interaction distance. Finite net energy gains can be obtained by placing optical components near the laser focus to limit the interaction region. The specific case of a higher-order Gaussian beam reflected by a mirror placed near focus is analyzed in detail. It is shown that the damage threshold of the mirror is severely limiting, i.e., substantial energy gains require very high electron injection energies. The VBWA, which uses two copropagating laser beams of different frequencies, relies on nonlinear ponderomotive forces, thus violating the assumptions of the LW theorem. Single-particle simulations confirm that substantial energy gains are possible and that optical components are not needed near the focal region.
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TL;DR: A review of the recent advances in the field and stresses quantum phenomena that require laser field intensities in excess of the relativistic threshold of ∼ 10 18 W / cm 2 is presented in this article.
394 citations
TL;DR: Ledingham and Norreys as mentioned in this paper discussed the potential of laser-driven particle and photon beams and compared them with conventional nuclear accelerator-generated beams in any way and concluded that conventional nuclear accelerators can do more than laser.
Abstract: Outstanding progress has been made in high-power laser technology in the last 10 years with laser powers reaching petawatt (PW) values. At present, there are 15 PW lasers built or being built around the world and plans are afoot for new, even higher power, lasers reaching values of exawatt (EW) or even zetawatt (ZW) powers. Petawatt lasers generate electric fields of 10 12 Vm 1 with a large fraction of the total pulse energy being converted to relativistic electrons with energies reaching in excess of 1GeV. In turn these electrons result in the generation of beams of protons, heavy ions, neutrons and high-energy photons. These laser-driven particle beams have encouraged many to think of carrying out experiments normally associated with conventional nuclear accelerators and reactors. To this end a number of introductory articles have been written under a trial name 'Laser Nuclear Physics' (Ledingham and Norreys 1999 Contemp. Phys. 40 367, Ledingham et al 2002 Europhys. News. 33 120, Ledingham et al 2003 Science 300 1107, Takabe et al 2001 J. Plasma Fusion Res. 77 1094). However, even greater strides have been made in the last 3 or 4 years in laser technology and it is timely to reassess the potential of laser-driven particle and photon beams. It must be acknowledged right from the outset that to date laser- driven particle beams have yet to compete favourably with conventional nuclear accelerator-generated beams in any way and so this is not a paper comparing laser and conventional accelerators. However, occasionally throughout the paper as a reality check, it will be mentioned what conventional nuclear accelerators can do.
172 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, an inverse Cherenkov laser acceleration configuration is presented in which a laser beam is self-guided in a partially ionized gas, and the stability of self-guiding beams is analyzed and discussed.
Abstract: In this paper we discuss some of the important issues pertaining to laser acceleration in vacuum, neutral gases, and plasmas. The limitations of laser vacuum acceleration as they relate to electron slippage, laser diffraction, material damage, and electron aperture effects, are discussed. An inverse Cherenkov laser acceleration configuration is presented in which a laser beam is self‐guided in a partially ionized gas. Optical self‐guiding is the result of a balance between the nonlinear self‐focusing properties of neutral gases and the diffraction effects of ionization. The stability of self‐guided beams is analyzed and discussed. In addition, aspects of the laser wakefield accelerator are presented and laser‐driven accelerator experiments are briefly discussed.
150 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a relativistic single particle simulation of vacuum acceleration of an electron by a high-intensity radially polarized laser beam is presented, where the strong correlation between final electron energy and scattering angle is discussed.
137 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a transparent dielectric grating accelerator structure was proposed for ultrashort laser pulse operation, based on the principle of periodic field reversal to achieve phase synchronicity for relativistic particles.
Abstract: We describe a transparent dielectric grating accelerator structure that is designed for ultrashort laser pulse operation. The structure is based on the principle of periodic field reversal to achieve phase synchronicity for relativistic particles; however, to preserve ultrashort pulse operation it does not resonate the laser field in the vacuum channel. The geometry of the structure appears well suited for application with high average power lasers and high thermal loading. Finally, it shows potential for an unloaded gradient of $10\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{GeV}/\mathrm{m}$ with 10 fs laser pulses and the possibility to accelerate ${10}^{6}$ electrons per bunch at an efficiency of 8%. The fabrication procedure and a proposed near term experiment with this accelerator structure are presented.
133 citations
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Book•
30 Sep 1996
TL;DR: This hands-on guide shows you how to combine physical optics modeling techniques with the free space dyadic Green's function to quickly and easily calculate antenna patterns and diffraction from nearby objects, letting your PC do the specialized math for you.
Abstract: From the Publisher:
Spend less time setting up complex antenna design problems and improve the accuracy of your results with this practical new book and software package. It shows you how to combine physical optics modeling techniques with the free space dyadic Green's function to quickly and easily calculate antenna patterns and diffraction from nearby objects, letting your PC do the specialized math for you.
Accompanying software created in MATLAB® and traditional FORTRAN code shows you how to apply basic routines so you can focus more time on the actual solution of antenna radiation problems. The book includes detailed examples showing you how to string the subroutines together for fast, accurate analysis of multiple reflector antennas, radomes, lenses, RCS of simple surfaces, microstrip arrays, and more.
Packed with 100 illustrations and more than 120 equations, this hands-on guide is essential reading for all antenna design engineers who need powerful, versatile techniques to solve antenna radiation problems and who want to avoid complicated and potentially inaccurate math.
44 citations