Publications

1995

• Electron acceleration from the breaking of relativistic plasma waves
  
  • Modena A.
  • Najmudin Z.
  • Dangor A. E.
  • Clayton C. E.
  • Marsh K. A.
  • Joshi C.
  • Malka Victor
  • Darrow C. B.
  • Danson C.
  • Neely D.
  • Walsh F. N.
  Nature, Nature Publishing Group, 1995, 377 (6550), pp.606 - 608. ELECTRONS in a plasma undergo collective wave-like oscillations near the plasma frequency. These plasma waves can have a range of wavelengths and hence a range of phase velocities1. Of particular note are relativistic plasma waves2,3, for which the phase velocity approaches the speed of light; the longitudinal electric field associated with such waves can be extremely large, and can be used to accelerate electrons (either injected externally or supplied by the plasma) to high energies over very short distances2á¤-4. The maximum electric field, and hence maximum acceleration rate, that can be obtained in this way is determined by the maximum amplitude of oscillation that can be supported by the plasma5á¤-8. When this limit is reached, the plasma wave is said to ᤘbreakᤙ. Here we report observations of relativistic plasma waves driven to breaking point by the Raman forward-scattering instability9,10 induced by short, high-intensity laser pulses. The onset of wave-breaking is indicated by a sudden increase in both the number and maximum energy (up to 44 MeV) of accelerated plasma electrons, as well as by the loss of coherence of laser light scattered from the plasma wave. (10.1038/377606a0)
  DOI : 10.1038/377606a0
• Experimental Study of electron acceleration by plasma beat-waves with Nd lasers
  
  • Amiranoff François
  • Moulin F.
  • Fusellier J.
  • Joly J.M.
  • Juillard M.
  • Bercher M.
  • Bernard D.
  • Debraine A.
  • Dieulot J.M.
  • Jacquet F.
  • Matricon P.
  • Mine Ph.
  • Montes B.
  • Morano R.
  • Poilleux P.
  • Specka A.
  • Morillo Joseph
  • Ardonceau J.
  • Cros B.
  • Matthieussent G.
  • Stenz C.
  • Mora P.
  , 1996, 1, pp.634-636. We have observed the acceleration of electrons by a beat-wave generated in a deuterium plasma by two Nd-YAG and Nd-YLF laser wavelengths. Electrons injected at an energy of 3.3 MeV are observed to be accelerated up to 4.7 MeV after the plasma. The energy gain is compatible with a peak electric field of the order of 1.2 GV/m. The experiment has been performed with different injection energies, from 2.5 to 3.3 MeV, with different plasma dimensions, and with different laser intensities (10.1109/PAC.1995.504740)
  DOI : 10.1109/PAC.1995.504740