Relativistic Electron Streaming Instabilities Modulate Proton Beams Accelerated in Laser-Plasma Interactions

S. Göde, C. Rödel, K. Zeil, R. Mishra, M. Gauthier, F.-E. Brack, T. Kluge, M. J. MacDonald, J. Metzkes, L. Obst, M. Rehwald, C. Ruyer, H.-P. Schlenvoigt, W. Schumaker, P. Sommer, T. E. Cowan, U. Schramm, S. Glenzer, and F. Fiuza
Phys. Rev. Lett. 118, 194801 – Published 11 May 2017
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Abstract

We report experimental evidence that multi-MeV protons accelerated in relativistic laser-plasma interactions are modulated by strong filamentary electromagnetic fields. Modulations are observed when a preplasma is developed on the rear side of a μm-scale solid-density hydrogen target. Under such conditions, electromagnetic fields are amplified by the relativistic electron Weibel instability and are maximized at the critical density region of the target. The analysis of the spatial profile of the protons indicates the generation of B>10MG and E>0.1MV/μm fields with a μm-scale wavelength. These results are in good agreement with three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations and analytical estimates, which further confirm that this process is dominant for different target materials provided that a preplasma is formed on the rear side with scale length 0.13λ0a0. These findings impose important constraints on the preplasma levels required for high-quality proton acceleration for multipurpose applications.

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  • Received 18 November 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.118.194801

© 2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Accelerators & BeamsPlasma Physics

Authors & Affiliations

S. Göde1,2, C. Rödel1,3, K. Zeil4, R. Mishra1, M. Gauthier1, F.-E. Brack4,6, T. Kluge4, M. J. MacDonald1,5, J. Metzkes4, L. Obst4,6, M. Rehwald4,6, C. Ruyer1,7, H.-P. Schlenvoigt4, W. Schumaker1, P. Sommer4,6, T. E. Cowan4,6, U. Schramm4,6, S. Glenzer1, and F. Fiuza1,*

  • 1High Energy Density Science Division, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park, California 94025, USA
  • 2European XFEL GmbH, Holzkoppel 4, 22869 Schenefeld, Germany
  • 3Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
  • 4Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Institute of Radiation Physics, Bautzner Landstr. 400, 01328 Dresden, Germany
  • 5University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA
  • 6Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
  • 7CEA, DAM, DIF, F-91297 Arpajon, France

  • *fiuza@slac.stanford.edu

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Issue

Vol. 118, Iss. 19 — 12 May 2017

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