Generation of ultrafast electron bunch trains via trapping into multiple periods of plasma wakefields

Abstract

We demonstrate a novel approach to the generation of femtosecond electron bunch trains via laser-driven wakefield acceleration. We use two independent high-intensity laser pulses, a drive, and injector, each creating their own plasma wakes. The interaction of the laser pulses and their wakes results in a periodic injection of free electrons in the drive plasma wake via several mechanisms, including ponderomotive drift, wake-wake interference, and pre-acceleration of electrons directly by strong laser fields. Electron trains were generated with up to 4 quasi-monoenergetic bunches, each separated in time by a plasma period. The time profile of the generated trains is deduced from an analysis of beam loading and confirmed using 2D Particle-in-Cell simulations.

arXiv comment11 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Physics of Plasmas

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Cited by in corpus (2)

• Evolution of equilibrium particle beams under external wakefields
• Attosecond betatron radiation pulse train