Abstract
Underdense plasma produced in gas jets by low intensity laser prepulses in the presence of a static magnetic field, $B\ensuremath{\sim}0.3\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{T}$, is shown experimentally to become an optical element allowing steering of tightly focused high power femtosecond laser pulses within several degrees along with essential enhancement of pulse's focusability. Strong laser prepulses form a density ramp perpendicularly to magnetic field direction and, owing to the light refraction, main laser pulses propagate along the magnetic field even if it is tilted from the laser axis. Electrons generated in the laser pulse wake are well collimated and follow in the direction of the magnetic field; their characteristics are measured to be not sensitive to the tilt of magnetic field up to angles $\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$.
Highlights
Consistent control and steering of high intensity laser pulses is an important requirement for experimental research in fields such as laser wakefield acceleration [1,2,3], plasma photonics [4], high-energy density physics [5,6,7], and so on to provide stable, repeatable results of measurements
The effect of laser prepulse in the presence of an external magnetic field is illustrated by Fig. 2 when the direction of magnetic field coincides with the direction of laser pulse propagation
We attribute this effect to the plasma optical element which optical quality depends on the prepulse intensity: only a high intensity laser prepulse forms a density gradient able to improve a poor laser energy distribution in the focus spot
Summary
Consistent control and steering of high intensity laser pulses is an important requirement for experimental research in fields such as laser wakefield acceleration [1,2,3], plasma photonics [4], high-energy density physics [5,6,7], and so on to provide stable, repeatable results of measurements. The conventional optics may be not able to support required guiding and steering of high-energy particles or high power laser pulses. Applications of laser-driven electron bunches require their high charges, low emittances, low-energy spreads, and high reproducibility. These parameters are very sensitive to the plasma and laser conditions. The optical steering here is one of the most important technique allowing high stability and controllability of the laser wakefield acceleration
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