Quasimonoenergetic laser plasma positron accelerator using particle-shower plasma-wave interactions

Aakash A Sahai

doi:10.1103/physrevaccelbeams.21.081301

Aakash A Sahai

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevaccelbeams.21.081301

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Abstract

An all-optical centimeter-scale laser-plasma positron accelerator is modeled to produce quasi-monoenergetic beams with tunable ultra-relativistic energies. A new principle elucidated here describes the trapping of divergent positrons that are part of a laser-driven electromagnetic shower with a large energy spread and their acceleration into a quasi-monoenergetic positron beam in a laser-driven plasma wave. Proof of this principle using analysis and Particle-In-Cell simulations demonstrates that, under limits defined here, existing lasers can accelerate hundreds of MeV pC quasi-monoenergetic positron bunches. By providing an affordable alternative to kilometer-scale radio-frequency accelerators, this compact positron accelerator opens up new avenues of research.

Highlights

Monoenergetic positron accelerators intrinsic to positronelectron colliders at energy frontiers [1,2] have been fundamental to many important discoveries [3,4,5,6] that underpin the standard model
Positron accelerators have been scarce due to complexities involved in the production and isolation of elusive particles like positrons [2,16] in addition to the costs associated with the large size of radio-frequency accelerators [17]
The size of conventional rf accelerators is dictated by the distance over which charged particles gain energy under the action of breakdown limited [18] tens of MVm−1 rf fields sustained using metallic structures that reconfigure transverse electromagnetic waves into modes with axial fields

Summary

Introduction

Monoenergetic positron accelerators intrinsic to positronelectron (eþ − e−) colliders at energy frontiers [1,2] have been fundamental to many important discoveries [3,4,5,6] that underpin the standard model. This letter models the trapping of divergent positrons that are part of laser-driven particle showers and their acceleration into a quasimonoenergetic eþ-beams, of tunable energy, in a laser-driven plasma wave.

Results

Conclusion