Electron acceleration by laser driven plasma waves in inhomogeneous plasmas

Abstract

A new method of electron acceleration by laser driven plasma waves is proposed. The method takes advantage of the phase matching between injected electrons and plasma waves. The phase of electrons in electrostatic waves can be controlled by changing the plasma electron density spatially along the direction of electron propagation. From numerical results, by assuming 1.05-μm, 30-ps laser pulse with 1017 W/cm2 which is attainable today, it is shown that electrons are successfully accelerated from 1 MeV to 1 GeV in a distance of 18 m. It is also numerically shown that the phase stability is as good as that of conventional linacs.