High-quality electron beams from a laser wakefield accelerator using plasma-channel guiding

摘要: Laser-driven accelerators, in which particles are accelerated by the electric field of a plasma wave (the wakefield) driven an intense laser, have demonstrated accelerating fields hundreds GV m-1 (refs 1–3). These thousands times greater than those achievable conventional radio-frequency spurring interest laser accelerators4,5 as compact next-generation sources energetic electrons and radiation. To date, however, acceleration distances been severely limited lack controllable method for extending propagation distance focused pulse. The ensuing short results low-energy beams with 100 per cent electron energy spread1,2,3, limits potential applications. Here we demonstrate accelerator that produces spread few cent, low emittance increased (more 109 above 80 MeV). Our technique involves use preformed density channel to guide relativistically resulting longer distance. open way tunable high-brightness