Relativistic Electron Bunches Research Articles

Generation of Subterahertz Superradiance Pulses Based on Excitation of a Surface Wave by Relativistic Electron Bunches Moving in Oversized Corrugated Waveguides.

The first experiments on the observation of short pulsed superradiant (SR) emission with the excitation of a surface wave by a relativistic electron bunch moving in an oversized corrugated waveguide were performed. Subterahertz SR pulses with a central frequency of 0.14THz, an ultrashort duration of 150ps, and an extremely high peak power of 50-70MW were generated. The experiments were based on a theoretical consideration including the quasioptical approach and direct particle-in-cell simulations.

THz-driven zero-slippage IFEL scheme for phase space manipulation**Work supported by DOE grant DE-SC0009914 and NSF grant PHY-1415583.

We describe an inverse free electron laser (IFEL) interaction driven by a near single-cycle THz pulse that is group velocity-matched to an electron bunch inside a waveguide, allowing for a sustained interaction in a magnetic undulator. We discuss the application of this guided-THz IFEL technique for compression of a relativistic electron bunch and synchronization with the external laser pulse used to generate the THz pulse via optical rectification, as well as a laser-driven THz streaking diagnostic with the potential for femtosecond scale temporal resolution. Initial measurements of the THz waveform via an electro-optic sampling based technique confirm the predicted reduction of the group velocity, using a curved parallel plate waveguide, as a function of the varying aperture size of the guide. We also present the design of a proof-of-principle experiment based on the bunch parameters available at the UCLA PEGASUS laboratory. With a THz peak field, our simulation model predicts compression of a electron beam by nearly an order of magnitude and a significant reduction of its initial timing jitter.

Comparisons of time explicit hybrid kinetic-fluid code Architect for Plasma Wakefield Acceleration with a full PIC code

Architect, a time explicit hybrid code designed to perform quick simulations for electron driven plasma wakefield acceleration, is described. In order to obtain beam quality acceptable for applications, control of the beam-plasma-dynamics is necessary. Particle in Cell (PIC) codes represent the state-of-the-art technique to investigate the underlying physics and possible experimental scenarios; however PIC codes demand the necessity of heavy computational resources. Architect code substantially reduces the need for computational resources by using a hybrid approach: relativistic electron bunches are treated kinetically as in a PIC code and the background plasma as a fluid. Cylindrical symmetry is assumed for the solution of the electromagnetic fields and fluid equations. In this paper both the underlying algorithms as well as a comparison with a fully three dimensional particle in cell code are reported. The comparison highlights the good agreement between the two models up to the weakly non-linear regimes. In highly non-linear regimes the two models only disagree in a localized region, where the plasma electrons expelled by the bunch close up at the end of the first plasma oscillation.

Wake excited in plasma by an ultrarelativistic pointlike bunch

A plasma flow behind a relativistic electron bunch propagating through a cold plasma is found assuming that the transverse and longitudinal dimensions of the bunch are small and the bunch can be treated as a point charge. In addition, the bunch charge is assumed small. A simplified system of equations for the plasma electrons is derived and it is shown that, through a simple rescaling of variables, the bunch charge can be eliminated from the equations. These equations have a unique solution, with an ion cavity formed behind the driver. The equations are solved numerically and the scaling of the cavity dimensions with the driver charge is obtained. A numerical solution for the case of a positively charged driver is also found.

Effects of the quadrupole wakefields in a passive streaker

A novel method based on transverse wakefields has been recently proposed to characterize the temporal profile of a relativistic electron bunch. The electron bunch is streaked by the interaction with the transverse wakefield excited when the electrons travel off-axis in a device called the passive streaker. For the large transverse off-axis offsets required to effectively streak the electron bunch, higher order modes can be excited. The time-dependent quadrupole wakefield of the dielectric-lined structure can cause a significant enlargement of the transverse profile at the screen. Consequently, the measurement resolution is decreased also at the bunch tail. Here we report on how the temporal profile can be effectively reconstructed also including the defocusing effect for a given transverse beam distribution at the passive streaker.

Efficient extraction of high power THz radiation generated by an ultra-relativistic electron beam in a dielectric loaded waveguide

We have measured an intense THz radiation produced by a sub-picosecond, relativistic electron bunch in a dielectric loaded waveguide. For efficient THz pulse extraction, the dielectric loaded waveguide end was cut at an angle. For an appropriate choice of angle cut, such antenna converts the TM01 mode excited in the waveguide into a free-space fundamental Gauss-Hermite mode propagating at an angle with respect to the electron beam trajectory. Simulations show that more than 95% of energy can be extracted using such a simple approach. More than 40 oscillations of about 170 ps long 0.48 THz signal were explicitly measured with an interferometer and 10 μJ of energy per pulse, as determined with a calorimetric energy meter, were delivered outside the electron beamline to an area suitable for THz experiments.

Short electron bunch generation using single-cycle ultrafast electron guns

We introduce a solution for producing ultrashort ($\sim$fs) high charge ($\sim$pC) from ultra-compact guns utilizing single-cycle THz pulses. We show that the readily available THz pulses with energies as low as 20 ?J are sufficient to generate multi-10 keV electron bunches. Moreover, It is demonstrated that THz energies of 2mJ are sufficient to generate relativistic electron bunches with higher than 2 MeV energy. The high acceleration gradients possible in the structures provide 30 fs electron bunches at 30 keV energy and 45 fs bunches at 2 MeV energy. These structures will underpin future devices for strong field THz physics in general and miniaturized electron guns, in which the high fields combined with the short pulse duration enable electron beams with ultrahigh brightness.

Capturing relativistic wakefield structures in plasmas using ultrashort high-energy electrons as a probe.

A new method capable of capturing coherent electric field structures propagating at nearly the speed of light in plasma with a time resolution as small as a few femtoseconds is proposed. This method uses a few femtoseconds long relativistic electron bunch to probe the wake produced in a plasma by an intense laser pulse or an ultra-short relativistic charged particle beam. As the probe bunch traverses the wake, its momentum is modulated by the electric field of the wake, leading to a density variation of the probe after free-space propagation. This variation of probe density produces a snapshot of the wake that can directly give many useful information of the wake structure and its evolution. Furthermore, this snapshot allows detailed mapping of the longitudinal and transverse components of the wakefield. We develop a theoretical model for field reconstruction and verify it using 3-dimensional particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. This model can accurately reconstruct the wakefield structure in the linear regime, and it can also qualitatively map the major features of nonlinear wakes. The capturing of the injection in a nonlinear wake is demonstrated through 3D PIC simulations as an example of the application of this new method.

The source of THz radiation based on dielectric waveguide excited by sequence of electron bunches

We present a new method for excitation of THz Cherenkov radiation in a dielectric waveguide by relativistic electron bunches. A sequence of bunches generates monochromatic radiation. The frequency of radiation is defined by the distance between the bunches. The studies were carried by using the newly updated BBU-3000 code which permits taking into account a number of additional options: an external quadrupole focusing system, group velocity of the wakefield, and the dielectric material loss factor. In this paper, we present our algorithm for optimizing the number and sequential positions of bunches for generation of narrow band high power THz radiation.

Generation of THz-radiation in the Cherenkov decelerating structure with planar geometry at frequency ∼ 0.675 THz

One of the ways to generate THz-radiation is by the relativistic electron bunches travelling through Cherenkov decelerating dielectric filled capillary channel. Sapphire or other dielectric materials can be used for the internal surface coating of the capillary. Relativistic electron bunches of ∼100 µm in diameter and pulse durations of 1 ps or shorter are capable to produce substantial power of THz-radiation. The aperture of Cherenkov decelerating structure should be comparable with the sub-mm wavelength (0.05-3 mm). Such type of decelerating system allows providing of the wide range of operating parameters at the various geometrical sizes. But it is necessary to consider that such capillaries are difficult in production as there is a requirement to drill a small aperture in a long crystal of high hardness but brittle. In this regard it would be desirable to offer transition option from the axial to the planar geometry. Furthermore the ribbon beam has some advantages as focusing at low energies and possessing smaller expansion in the drift space. The authors present design and results of electrodynamics study of the decelerating planar dielectric filling Cherenkov channel at frequency 0.675 THz in this article. It is also delivered characteristic comparison with axial geometry channel. A horn antenna attached to such channel at 0.675 THz resonant frequency is considered.

Sapphire decelerating capillary channel integrated with antenna at frequency 0.675 THz

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in THz-radiation for application in medicine (THz tomographs), in pharmaceutics (composition analysis for medicines), in introscopy of large-scale objects (ships, trains, containers) and others. THz-radiation can be generated by relativistic electron bunches passing through the Cherenkov decelerating capillary channel (circular waveguide with dielectric filling) with horn extraction. Relativistic electron beams having ∼100 µm in diameter and pulse durations of 1 ps or less (as in photoinjectors) are capable of producing substantial power of THz-radiation. High-peak power coherent Cherenkov radiation can be produced by a properly modulated high-brightness electron beam or by a single, high-density bunch having sub-wavelength dimension. The aperture of a Cherenkov decelerating structure should be comparable with the mm or sub-mm wavelength (0.1-3 mm). Different dielectric materials for the internal surface coating of the capillary channel of mm-sub-mm cross-section can be used. As is known, a frequency of 0.675 THz corresponds to the atmospheric window with high transparency. This report presents the results of electrodynamics study of the metallized sapphire decelerating Cherenkov capillary. A horn antenna attached to the metallized sapphire capillary channel at the 0.675 THz resonant frequency will be considered.

Relativistic-microwave theory of ball lightning.

Ball lightning, a fireball sometimes observed during lightnings, has remained unexplained. Here we present a comprehensive theory for the phenomenon: At the tip of a lightning stroke reaching the ground, a relativistic electron bunch can be produced, which in turn excites intense microwave radiation. The latter ionizes the local air and the radiation pressure evacuates the resulting plasma, forming a spherical plasma bubble that stably traps the radiation. This mechanism is verified by particle simulations. The many known properties of ball lightning, such as the occurrence site, relation to the lightning channels, appearance in aircraft, its shape, size, sound, spark, spectrum, motion, as well as the resulting injuries and damages, are also explained. Our theory suggests that ball lighting can be created in the laboratory or triggered during thunderstorms. Our results should be useful for lightning protection and aviation safety, as well as stimulate research interest in the relativistic regime of microwave physics.

Formation and stability of a hollow electron beam in the presence of a plasma wake field driven by an ultra-short electron bunch

A numerical investigation on the spatiotemporal evolution of an electron beam, externally injected in a plasma in the presence of a plasma wake field, is carried out. The latter is driven by an ultra-short relativistic axially-symmetric femtosecond electron bunch. We first derive a novel Poisson-like equation for the wake potential where the driving term is the ultra-short bunch density, taking suitably into account the interplay between the sharpness and high energy of the bunch. Then, we show that a channel is formed longitudinally, through the externally injected beam while experiencing the effects of the bunch-driven plasma wake field, within the context of thermal wave model. The formation of the channel seems to be a final stage of the 3D evolution of the beam. This involves the appearance of small filaments and bubbles around the longitudinal axis. The bubbles coalesce forming a relatively stable axially-symmetric hollow beam structure.

Generalised model of a sheath of a plasma bubble excited by a short laser pulse or by a relativistic electron bunch in transversely inhomogeneous plasma

An analytical model of a plasma bubble (a wake wave in the strongly nonlinear regime) in transversely inhomogeneous plasma is generalised to an arbitrary profile of an electron sheath at its boundary. Within the framework of this generalisation we have found the potential within the bubble and shown that its envelope is described by a second-order equation, similar to the equation of a less general theory. We have also determined the domain of parameters at which this equation is considerably simplified and no longer depends on the profile of the electron sheath.

Generation of wakefields in a dielectric structure filled with plasma

The effect of plasma on the amplitude of the wakefield excited in a dielectric structure by a relativistic electron bunch train is studied. The structure under study is a dielectric cylindrical waveguide with an axial drift channel filled with plasma. The dependences of the amplitude of a longitudinal electric field on the plasma density are obtained for the following three cases: the parameters of the dielectric structure and bunches are fixed; the inside or outside radius of the dielectric tube changes according a change in the plasma frequency, and the bunch repetition frequency is adjusted to the plasma frequency and the frequency of the first radial mode of a dielectric wave. It is shown that, when the eigenwave frequencies are adjusted to the bunch repetition frequency via a change in the structure radii, the maximum of the accelerating field is determined by a plasma wave, and there is a plasma density range where a dielectric wave significantly contributes to the total field amplitude. In the case of changing the outside radius, this range is substantially wider.

Физические основы электропроводности сильно ионизированного воздуха

The excitement of air conductivity by a pulse bunch of relativistic electrons has been studied in the work. It has been shown that conductivity of air at normal pressure is defined by behavior of electronic components which with time permission of the order 10 s repeats changes of an electronic stream. The possibility of absolute measurements of exposition dose power in the wide range of radiation intensity has been considered. Ключевые слова: воздух, ионизация, электропроводность.

High-Field High-Repetition-Rate Sources for the Coherent THz Control of Matter.

Ultrashort flashes of THz light with low photon energies of a few meV, but strong electric or magnetic field transients have recently been employed to prepare various fascinating nonequilibrium states in matter. Here we present a new class of sources based on superradiant enhancement of radiation from relativistic electron bunches in a compact electron accelerator that we believe will revolutionize experiments in this field. Our prototype source generates high-field THz pulses at unprecedented quasi-continuous-wave repetition rates up to the MHz regime. We demonstrate parameters that exceed state-of-the-art laser-based sources by more than 2 orders of magnitude. The peak fields and the repetition rates are highly scalable and once fully operational this type of sources will routinely provide 1 MV/cm electric fields and 0.3 T magnetic fields at repetition rates of few 100 kHz. We benchmark the unique properties by performing a resonant coherent THz control experiment with few 10 fs resolution.

Investigations of the concept of a multibunch dielectric wakefield accelerator

Theoretical and experimental investigations of the physical principles of multibunch dielectric wakefield accelerator concept based on the wakefield excitation in the dielectric structure by a sequence of relativistic electron bunches are presented. The purpose of the concept is to enhance the wakefield intensity by means of the multibunch coherent excitation and wakefield accumulation in a resonator. The acceleration of bunches is achieved at detuning of bunch repetition frequency relative to the frequency of the excited wakefield. In such a way the sequence of bunches is divided into exciting and accelerated parts due to displacing bunches into accelerating phases of wakefield excited by a previous part of bunches of the same sequence. Besides the change of the permittivity and loss tangent of dielectrics under the irradiation by 100MeV electron beam is studied.

Temporal profile measurements of relativistic electron bunch based on wakefield generation

A complete characterization of the time-resolved longitudinal beam phase space is important to optimize the final performances of an accelerator, and in particular this is crucial for Free Electron Laser (FEL) facilities. In this paper we propose a novel method to characterize the profile of a relativistic electron bunch by passively streaking the beam using its self-interaction with the transverse wakefield excited by the bunch itself passing off-axis through a dielectric-lined or a corrugated waveguide. Results of a proof-of-principle experiment at the SwissFEL Injector Test Facility are discussed.

Direct longitudinal laser acceleration of electrons in free space

Compact laser-driven accelerators are versatile and powerful tools of unarguable relevance on societal grounds for the diverse purposes of science, health, security, and technology because they bring enormous practicality to state-of-the-art achievements of conventional radio-frequency accelerators. Current benchmarking laser-based technologies rely on a medium to assist the light-matter interaction, which impose material limitations or strongly inhomogeneous fields. The advent of few cycle ultra-intense radially polarized lasers has materialized an extensively studied novel accelerator that adopts the simplest form of laser acceleration and is unique in requiring no medium to achieve strong longitudinal energy transfer directly from laser to particle. Here we present the first observation of direct longitudinal laser acceleration of non-relativistic electrons that undergo highly-directional multi-GeV/m accelerating gradients. This demonstration opens a new frontier for direct laser-driven particle acceleration capable of creating well collimated and relativistic attosecond electron bunches and x-ray pulses.