TY - JOUR
T1 - Combined plasma lens and rephasing stage for a laser wakefield accelerator
AU - Gustafsson, Cornelia
AU - Löfquist, Erik
AU - Svendsen, Kristoffer
AU - Angella, Andrea
AU - Persson, Anders
AU - Lundh, Olle
PY - 2024/11/1
Y1 - 2024/11/1
N2 - Electrons from a laser wakefield accelerator have a limited energy gain due to dephasing and are prone to emittance growth, causing a large divergence. In this paper, we experimentally show that adjusting the plasma density profile can address both issues. Shock-assisted ionisation injection is used to produce 100 MeV quasi-monoenergetic electron bunches in the primary part of the accelerator. Downstream from the accelerator, a second, independently tuneable density region is added, which can be used to either boost the energy of the electron bunches or as a plasma lens for significant divergence reduction. An additional energy gain of 25% and a 40% divergence reduction are obtained. Theoretical models validate the effects.
AB - Electrons from a laser wakefield accelerator have a limited energy gain due to dephasing and are prone to emittance growth, causing a large divergence. In this paper, we experimentally show that adjusting the plasma density profile can address both issues. Shock-assisted ionisation injection is used to produce 100 MeV quasi-monoenergetic electron bunches in the primary part of the accelerator. Downstream from the accelerator, a second, independently tuneable density region is added, which can be used to either boost the energy of the electron bunches or as a plasma lens for significant divergence reduction. An additional energy gain of 25% and a 40% divergence reduction are obtained. Theoretical models validate the effects.
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-024-78143-6
DO - 10.1038/s41598-024-78143-6
M3 - Article
C2 - 39487255
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 14
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
IS - 1
M1 - 26286
ER -