Large-amplitude Relativistic Plasma Waves Research Articles

Large amplitude relativistic plasma waves

Relativistic, longitudinal plasma oscillations are studied for the case of a simple water bag distribution of electrons having cylindrical symmetry in momentum space with the axis of the cylinder parallel to the velocity of wave propagation. The plasma is required to obey the relativistic Vlasov–Poisson equations, and solutions are sought in the wave frame. An exact solution for the plasma density as a function of the electrostatic field is derived. The maximum electric field is presented in terms of an integral over the known density. It is shown that when the perpendicular momentum is neglected, the maximum electric field approaches infinity as the wave phase velocity approaches the speed of light. It is also shown that for any nonzero perpendicular momentum, the maximum electric field will remain finite as the wave phase velocity approaches the speed of light. The relationship to previously published solutions is discussed as is some recent controversy regarding the proper modeling of large amplitude relativistic plasma waves.

Second harmonic generation and its interaction with relativistic plasma waves driven by forward Raman instability in underdense plasmas

High conversion efficiency (0.1%) into second harmonic light generated in the interaction of a short-pulse intense laser with underdense plasma has been observed. In this experiment the plasma is created by optical field ionization of hydrogen or helium gas. Second harmonic spectra observed in the forward direction show Stokes and anti-Stokes satellites. This is due to the interaction of the second harmonic light with large-amplitude relativistic plasma waves. Second harmonic images taken at 30° from the propagation axis show that the radiation is generated over a length of a few times the Rayleigh length and that the origin of the second harmonic light is due to the radial electron density gradients created by the ionization process and the radial ponderomotive force.

Exact forward scattering of a CO2 laser beam from a relativistic plasma wave by time resolved frequency mixing in AgGaS2

In the UCLA plasma beat wave accelerator, a high intensity two frequency CO2 laser (λ1=10.6 μm, λ2=10.3 μm) is used to drive a large amplitude relativistic plasma wave. The plasma wave acts as a moving phase grating and scatters the incident pump waves into Stokes and anti-Stokes sidebands (ω1−ωp, ω2+ωp). The observation of these sidebands in the forward direction confirms the presence of the relativistic plasmon, and also gives an estimate of the amplitude–length product (n1/n0×L) of the wave. Since the Stokes and anti-Stokes signals are picosecond pulses at 10.9 and 10.0 μm, respectively, this light cannot be time resolved directly on a conventional detector or streak camera. The forward scattered light can be analyzed, however, by mixing the 10 μm light with visible light from a laser diode (670 nm) in a nonlinear crystal (AgGaS2) to produce frequency shifted light at 630 nm. The intensity of the 630 nm light is proportional to the product of the intensities of the two incident laser pulses, and can be time resolved on a streak camera. Experimental results for the plasma wave amplitude, spatial length, and temporal length are shown.

A low-energy low-density electron beam diagnostic for large amplitude relativistic plasma waves

The interactions of a low-energy electron beam that is injected perpendicularly through a large amplitude relativistic plasma wave are considered computationally. As the beam passes through the electrostatic fields of the plasma wave, its transverse profile becomes distorted. The amount of distortion provides information on the magnitude of the electrostatic field, as shown by particle trajectory simulations. The sensitivity and advantages of this low-energy beam diagnostic are compared with that for a relativistic electron beam diagnostic. The limit on the beam density required to prevent the growth of two stream instabilities is addressed. Implications for the use of this method as a diagnostic for ultrahigh-gradient plasma wave accelerators are discussed.

Studies of classical radiation emission from plasma wave undulators

The authors examine the characteristics of the classical radiation emitted by a relativistic electron beam that propagates perpendicularly through a large amplitude relativistic plasma wave. Such a study is useful for evaluating the feasibility of using relativistic plasma waves as extremely short wavelength undulators for generating short wavelength radiation. The electron trajectories in a plasma wave undulator are obtained using perturbation techniques and are then compared to numerical simulation results. The frequency spectrum and angular distribution of the spontaneous radiation emitted by a single electron and the stimulated radiation gain are obtained analytically, and are then compared to 3-D numerical simulations. The characteristics of the plasma wave undulator are compared to the AC free-electron laser (FEL) undulator and the conventional FEL.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>