Generating multi-GeV electron bunches using single stage laser wakefield acceleration in a 3D nonlinear regime

The extraordinary ability of space-charge waves in plasmas to accelerate charged particles at gradients that are orders of magnitude greater than in current accelerators has been well documented. We develop a phenomenological framework for laser wakefield acceleration (LWFA) in the 3D nonlinear regime, in which the plasma electrons are expelled by the radiation pressure of a short pulse laser, leading to nearly complete blowout. Our theory provides a recipe for designing a LWFA for given laser and plasma parameters and estimates the number and the energy of the accelerated electrons whether self-injected or externally injected. These formulas apply for self-guided as well as externally guided pulses (e.g. by…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: 0321345
• UD
  U.S. Department of Energy

  Awards: FG02-03ER54721, FC02-01ER41179, DE-FG02-, DE-FG52-06NA26195, FG52-06NA26195, DE-FG02
• NE
  National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center
• FP
  Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia