Observation of plasma wake-field effects during high-current relativistic electron-beam transport.

Abstract

Modulation of the beam current has been observed during ion-focused-regime (IFR) transport of a high-power relativistic electron beam propagating through a low-density background plasma. In this experiment, a 1.7-MeV, 1-kA, rise-time-sharpened electron beam is transported in a KrF-excimer-laser--produced IFR channel in trimethylamine gas. The IFR channel is immersed in a low-density plasma-filled transport tube. We present experimental measurements and computer simulations demonstrating modulation of this high-current relativistic electron beam near the low-density background plasma frequency.