Abstract
By using a laser-induced transient density ramp, we demonstrate self-injection of electrons in a self-modulated laser-wakefield accelerator with spatial localization. The number of injected electrons reaches . The transient density ramp is produced by a prepulse propagating transversely to drill a density depression channel via ionization and expansion. The same mechanism of injection with comparable efficiency is also demonstrated with a transverse plasma waveguide driven by Coulomb explosion.
- Received 16 August 2004
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.94.115003
©2005 American Physical Society