Comptes Rendus
Physics of colliding laser pulses in underdense plasmas
Comptes Rendus. Physique, Laser acceleration of particles in plasma, Volume 10 (2009) no. 2-3, pp. 148-158.

We report on recent experimental results on electron acceleration using two counter-propagating ultrashort and ultraintense laser pulses. At the collision, the two pulses drive a standing wave which is able to pre-accelerate plasma electrons which can then be trapped in the plasma wave. Optical diagnostics of the collision reveal signatures of this standing wave. Electron acceleration results in this regime are reviewed: the use of colliding pulses enables the generation of stable, tunable and high quality electron beams at the 100–200 MeV level. Detailed comparisons with 3D Particle in Cell (PIC) simulations give deeper insight on the role of the nonlinear propagation of the pump pulse on the performance of the accelerator. This deeper understanding has allowed us to optimize the beam charge of the accelerator at high energy.

Des résultats récents sur l'accélération d'électrons par collision d'impulsions laser intenses et contre propagatives sont présentés. À la collision, l'interférence des deux impulsions conduit à la génération d'une onde stationnaire qui pré-accélère les électrons du plasma qui, par la suite pourront être piégés dans l'onde de sillage. Les diagnostics optiques de la région de collision mettent en évidence des signatures de la présence de cette onde stationnaire. Une revue des résultats d'accélération d'électrons est ensuite présentée : l'utilisation de la technique d'injection par collision d'impulsions permet la production de faisceaux d'électrons stables, réglables et de haute qualité dans la gamme d'énergie 100–200 MeV. Les simulations PIC en trois dimensions révèlent le rôle important de la dynamique nonlinéaire de la propagation du faisceau pompe et son impact sur les performances de l'accélérateur. La prise en compte de ces effets nous a permis d'optimiser la charge à haute énergie du faisceau d'électrons.

Published online:
DOI: 10.1016/j.crhy.2009.03.006
Keywords: Laser–plasma interaction, Electron acceleration, Colliding pulses
Mots-clés : Interaction laser–plasma, Accélération d'électrons, Collision d'impulsions laser

Jérôme Faure 1; Clément Rechatin 1; Ahmed Ben-Ismail 1, 2; Jaeku Lim 1; Xavier Davoine 3; Erik Lefebvre 3; Victor Malka 1

1 Laboratoire d'optique appliquée, ENSTA, CNRS, École polytechnique, UMR 7639, 91761 Palaiseau, France
2 Laboratoire Leprince-Ringuet, École polytechnique, CNRS-IN2P3, UMR 7638, 91128 Palaiseau, France
3 CEA, DAM, DIF, Bruyères-le-Châtel, 91297 Arpajon cedex, France
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Jérôme Faure; Clément Rechatin; Ahmed Ben-Ismail; Jaeku Lim; Xavier Davoine; Erik Lefebvre; Victor Malka. Physics of colliding laser pulses in underdense plasmas. Comptes Rendus. Physique, Laser acceleration of particles in plasma, Volume 10 (2009) no. 2-3, pp. 148-158. doi : 10.1016/j.crhy.2009.03.006. https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/physique/articles/10.1016/j.crhy.2009.03.006/

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