Cyclotron resonance effect on Wakefield excitation and electron acceleration

Abstract

The acceleration mechanism of electrons in the presence of a strong axial magnetic field and Gaussian laser pulse is investigated by solving the dynamical equations numerically using a 2D relativistic code for particle acceleration. In the presence of a guide magnetic field, a large amplitude plasma wave of finite transverse extent and large phase velocity resonantly accelerates electrons when the Doppler shifted wave frequency equals electron–cyclotron frequency. After the electrons have gained high axial velocity, they may gain energy from the wave via Cerenkov resonance. The amplitude of the plasma wave increases when the strength of the magnetic field increases and hence the electron energy increases further.