Multi-MeV Electron Acceleration by Subterawatt Laser Pulses

A. J. Goers, G. A. Hine, L. Feder, B. Miao, F. Salehi, J. K. Wahlstrand, and H. M. Milchberg
Phys. Rev. Lett. 115, 194802 – Published 5 November 2015
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Abstract

We demonstrate laser-plasma acceleration of high charge electron beams to the 10MeV scale using ultrashort laser pulses with as little energy as 10 mJ. This result is made possible by an extremely dense and thin hydrogen gas jet. Total charge up to 0.5nC is measured for energies >1MeV. Acceleration is correlated to the presence of a relativistically self-focused laser filament accompanied by an intense coherent broadband light flash, associated with wave breaking, which can radiate more than 3% of the laser energy in a 1fs bandwidth consistent with half-cycle optical emission. Our results enable truly portable applications of laser-driven acceleration, such as low dose radiography, ultrafast probing of matter, and isotope production.

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  • Received 9 June 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.115.194802

© 2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

A. J. Goers, G. A. Hine, L. Feder, B. Miao, F. Salehi, J. K. Wahlstrand, and H. M. Milchberg

  • Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA

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Issue

Vol. 115, Iss. 19 — 6 November 2015

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