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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Towards isolated attosecond electron bunches using ultrashort-pulse laser-solid interactions

We investigate MeV-level attosecond electron bunches from ultrashort-pulse laser-solid interactions through similarities between experimental and simulated electron energy spectra. We show measurements of the bunch duration and temporal structure from particle-in-cell simulations. The experimental observation of such bunches favors specular reflection direction when focusing the laser pulse onto a subwavelength boundary of thick overdense plasmas at grazing incidence. Particle-in-cell simulation further reveals that the attosecond duration is a result of ultra-thin (~tenth of a micron) gaps of zero electromagnetic energy density in the modulated reflected radiation, while the bunching (locally peaked electron concentration) comes from the highly-directional electron angular distribution acquired by the electrons in a grazing incidence setup. To isolate a single electron bunch, we perform simulations using 1-cycle laser pulses and analyze the effect of carrier-envelop phase with particle tracking. The duration of the electron bunch can be further decreased by increasing the laser intensity and the focal spot size, while its direction can be changed by tuning the preplasma density gradient.

High-harmonic generation↗
DOE OSTI2019

Generation and acceleration of electron bunches from a plasma photocathode

Plasma waves generated in the wake of intense, relativistic laser or particle beams can accelerate electron bunches to gigaelectronvolt energies in centimetre-scale distances. This allows the realization of compact accelerators with emerging applications ranging from modern light sources such as the free-electron laser to energy frontier lepton colliders. In a plasma wakefield accelerator, such multi-gigavolt-per-metre wakefields can accelerate witness electron bunches that are either externally injected or captured from the background plasma. Here in this work, we demonstrate optically triggered injection and acceleration of electron bunches, generated in a multi-component hydrogen and helium plasma employing a spatially aligned and synchronized laser pulse. This ‘plasma photocathode’ decouples injection from wake excitation by liberating tunnel-ionized helium electrons directly inside the plasma cavity, where these cold electrons are then rapidly boosted to relativistic velocities. The injection regime can be accessed via optical density down-ramp injection and is an important step towards the generation of electron beams with unprecedented low transverse emittance, high current and 6D-brightness. This experimental path opens numerous prospects for transformative plasma wakefield accelerator applications based on ultrahigh-brightness beams.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Time-Resolved Electron-Bunch Diagnostics Using Transverse Wakefields

The development of future free electron lasers (FELs) requires reliable time-resolved measurement of variable ultra-short electron-bunchs characteristics. A possible technique is to streak the bunch in the transverse direction by means of time-dependent external fields. In this paper we explore the possible use of self-generated electromagnetic fields *. A passive deflector, consisting of a dielectric-lined waveguide, is used to produce wakefields that impart a time-dependent transverse kick to the relativistic electron bunch passing off-axis. We investigate the technique and its performances and explore its possible application at the Fermilab Accelerator Science & Technology (FAST) facility.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Dependence of emittance on the length of an electron bunch during laser-plasma acceleration in guiding structures

We report a theoretical analysis and numerical simulation of the dynamics of transverse emittance of an electron bunch during its acceleration in wake fields generated by a laser pulse in a weakly nonlinear mode. Analytical expressions are obtained for the main factors affecting the emittance growth during acceleration and the case is considered when the characteristic transverse size of the injected bunch exceeds the matched radius determined by the focusing force at the injection point, the initial emittance and the electron bunch energy, and the resulting value of emittance is much larger than the initial one. The dynamics of the emittance growth during acceleration as a function of the length of the electron bunch is described, and the length of the bunch is found at which there occurs a complete phase mixing of betatron oscillations of electrons and the emittance increases to its maximum value determined by the bunch parameters and the focusing force at the injection point. Analytical expressions are in good agreement with the results of numerical simulation. (paper)

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Noise in Intense Electron Bunches (Final Technical Report)

The goal of this project is to investigate density fluctuations in electron bunches. Noise and density fluctuations in relativistic electron bunches, accelerated in a linac, are of critical importance to various Coherent Electron Cooling (CEC) concepts as well as to free-electron lasers (FELs). For CEC, the beam noise results in additional diffusion that counteracts cooling; and if this noise is not controlled at sufficiently low level, the noise heating effects can overcome cooling. There have been several proposals in the past to suppress the noise in the beam in the frequency range of interest in order to optimize the cooling effects. In SASE FELs a microwave instability starts from the initial noise in the beam and eventually leads to the beam microbunching yielding coherent radiation, and the initial noise in the FEL bandwidth plays a useful role. In seeded FELs, in contrast, such noise interferes with the seed signal, so that reducing noise at the initial seed wavelength would lower the seed laser power requirement. Our major goals were (1) to measure the electron beam density noise level in a 0.5 – 10 um wavelength range, (2) to predict the beam noise level in order to compare with the measurements, and (3) as a stretch goal, to find mechanisms that affect the beam noise to control its level in a predictable manner.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Laser vacuum acceleration of a relativistic electron bunch

With regard to the problem of laser acceleration of a relativistic electron bunch we present a scheme of its vacuum acceleration directly by a relativistic intensity laser pulse. The energy of the electron bunch injected into the laser pulse leading edge increases during its coaxial movement to a thin, pulse-reflecting target. The laser-accelerated electrons continue to move free forward, passing through the target. The study of this acceleration scheme in the three-dimensional geometry is verified in a numerical simulation by the particle-in-cell method, which showed that the energy of a part of the electrons can increase significantly compared to the initial one. Restrictions are discussed, which impose limiting values of energy and total charge of accelerated electrons. (superstrong light fields)

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Electron diffraction using ultrafast electron bunches from a laser-wakefield accelerator at kHz repetition rate

We show that electron bunches in the 50-100 keV range can be produced from a laser wakefield accelerator using 10 mJ, 35 fs laser pulses operating at 0.5 kHz. It is shown that using a solenoid magnetic lens, the electron bunch distribution can be shaped. The resulting transverse and longitudinal coherence is suitable for producing diffraction images from a polycrystalline 10 nm aluminum foil. The high repetition rate, the stability of the electron source, and the fact that its uncorrelated bunch duration is below 100 fs make this approach promising for the development of sub-100 fs ultrafast electron diffraction experiments.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Accuracy evaluation of a Compton X-ray spectrometer with bremsstrahlung X-rays generated by a 6 MeV electron bunch

A Compton-scattering-based X-ray spectrometer is developed to obtain the energy distribution of fast electrons produced by intense laser and matter interactions. Bremsstrahlung X-rays generated by fast electrons in a material are used to measure fast electrons’ energy distribution in matter. In the Compton X-ray spectrometer, X-rays are converted into recoil electrons by Compton scattering in a converter made from fused silica glass, and a magnet-based electron energy analyzer is used to measure the energy distribution of the electrons that recoil in the direction of the incident X-rays. The spectrum of the incident X-rays is reconstructed from the energy distribution of the recoil electrons. The accuracy of this spectrometer is evaluated using a quasi-monoenergetic 6 MeV electron bunch that emanates from a linear accelerator. An electron bunch is injected into a 1.5 mm thick tungsten plate to produce bremsstrahlung X-rays. The spectrum of these bremsstrahlung X-rays is obtained in the range from 1 to 9 MeV. The energy of the electrons in the bunch is estimated using a Monte Carlo simulation of particle-matter interactions. The result shows that the spectrometer's energy accuracy is ±0.5 MeV for 6.0 MeV electrons.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2012

Generation of Picosecond Electron-Bunch Trains with Variable Spacing Using a Multi-Pulse Photocathode Laser

We demonstrate the generation of a train of electron bunches with variable spacing at the Argonne Wakefield Accelerator. The photocathode ultraviolet laser pulse consists of a train of four pulses produced via polarization splitting using two alpha-BBO crystals. The photoemitted electron bunches are then manipulated in a horizontally-bending dogleg with variable longitudinal dispersion. A downstream vertically-deflecting cavity is then used to diagnose the temporal profile of the electron beam. The generation of a train composed of four bunches with tunable spacing is demonstrated. Such a train of bunch could have application to, e.g., the resonant excitation of wakefield in dielectric-lined structures. We have presented preliminary measurements on a simple technique to generate a train of electron bunches with variable separation. In the initial experiment appreciable density modulation down to wavelengths of {approx}1.8 mm (corresponding to a temporal separation of {approx}6 ps) were achieved for a total charge of 0.5 nC. Finding ways to reach smaller separations is being explored with the help of numerical simulations and will be presented elsewhere.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Simulations of laser-wakefield acceleration with external electron-bunch injection for REGAE experiments at DESY

We present particle-in-cell simulations for future laser-plasma wakefield experiments with external bunch injection at the REGAE accelerator facility at DESY, Hamburg, Germany. Two effects have been studied in detail: emittance evolution of electron bunches externally injected into a wake, and longitudinal bunch compression inside the wakefield. Results show significant transverse emittance growth during the injection process, if the electron bunch is not matched to its intrinsic betatron motion inside the wakefield. This might introduce the necessity to include beam-matching sections upstream of each plasma-accelerator section with fundamental implications on the design of staged laser wakefield accelerators. When externally injected at the zero-field crossing of the laser-driven wake, the electron bunch may undergo significant compression in longitudinal direction and be accelerated simultaneously due to the gradient in the acting force. The mechanism would allow for production of single high-energy, ultra-short (on the order of one femtosecond) bunches at REGAE. The optimal conditions for maximal bunch compression are discussed in the presented studies.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2017

Simulation Study on JLEIC High Energy Bunched Electron Cooling

In the Jefferson Lab (JLab) Electron Ion Collider (JLEIC) project the traditional electron cooling technique is used to reduce the ion beam emittance at the booster ring, and to compensate the intrabeam scattering effect and maintain the ion beam emittance during the collision at the collider ring. Different with other electron coolers using DC electron beam, the proposed electron cooler at the JLEIC ion collider ring uses high energy bunched electron beam, provided by an ERL. In this paper, we report the new electron cooling simulation program developed at JLab to fulfil specific simulation requirements of JLEIC and some recent simulation study on how the electron cooling rate will be affected by the bunched electron beam properties, such as the correlation between the longitudinal position and momentum, the bunch size, and the Larmor emittance.

Zhang, He↗
DOE OSTI2023

Electron bunch dynamics and emission in particle-in-cell simulations of relativistic laser–solid interactions: On density artifacts, collisions, and numerical dispersion

Sub-optical-cycle dynamics of dense electron bunches in relativistic-intensity laser–solid interactions lead to the emission of high-order harmonics and attosecond light pulses. The capacity of particle-in-cell simulations to accurately model these dynamics is essential for the prediction of emission properties because the attosecond pulse intensity depends on the electron density distribution at the time of emission and on the temporal distribution of individual electron Lorentz-factors in an emitting electron bunch. Here, we show that in one-dimensional collisionless simulations, the peak density of the emitting electron bunch increases with the increase in the spatial resolution of the simulation grid. When collisions are added to the model, the peak electron density becomes independent of the spatial resolution. Collisions are shown to increase the spread of the peaks of Lorentz-factors of emitting electrons in time, especially in the regimes far from optimum generation conditions, thus leading to lower intensities of attosecond pulses as compared to those obtained in collisionless simulations.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2015

High quality electron bunch generation with CO{sub 2}-laser-plasma interaction

CO{sub 2} laser-driven electron acceleration in low-density plasma is demonstrated using particle-in-cell simulation. An intense CO{sub 2} laser pulse of long wavelength excites a wake bubble that has a large elongated volume for accelerating a large number of electrons before reaching the charge saturation limit. A transversely injected laser pulse is used to induce and control the electron injection. It is found that an electron bunch with total charge up to 10 nC and absolute energy spread less than 16 MeV can be obtained. As a result, the charge per energy interval of the bunch reaches up to 0.6 nC/MeV. Intense CO{sub 2}-laser based electron acceleration can provide a new direction for generating highly charged electron bunches with low energy spread, which is of much current interest, especially for table-top X-ray generation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Generation of attosecond electron bunches upon laser pulse propagation through a sharp plasma boundary

The formation of an electron bunch produced due to electron self-injection into a wake wave that is generated by a relativistic-intensity laser pulse propagating through a sharp boundary of semi-bounded plasma is studied in one-dimensional geometry. Analytical expressions are obtained for estimating the bunch length and the energy spread of electrons in the bunch. Numerical simulation is performed which confirms the results of analytical consideration. (paper)

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2011

Electron Bunch Length Monitors using Spatially Encoded Electro-optical Technique

A single-shot, nondestructive, electro-optical, electron bunch length monitor is experimentally verified by encoding the Coulomb field of the bunch profile on the spatial intensity distribution of an unchirped femtosecond laser pulse in an orthogonal geometry (hence, a temporal-to-spatial transformation). This electron bunch measurement scheme can simultaneously measure large timing jitter (?ps) with a wide measurement timespan covering picosecond to subpicosecond ranges.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2012

Acceleration of electron bunches injected into a wake wave

The process of trapping and acceleration of nonmonoenergetic electron bunches by a wake wave excited by a laser pulse in a plasma channel is investigated. The electrons are injected into the vicinity of the maximum of the wakefield potential with a velocity lower than the wave phase velocity. The study is aimed at utilizing specific features of a wakefield with substantially overlapped focusing and accelerating phases for achieving monoenergetic electron acceleration. Conditions are found under which electrons in a finite-length nonmonoenergetic bunch are accelerated to high energies, while the energy spread between them is minimal. The effect of energy grouping of electrons makes it possible to obtain compact high-energy electron bunches with a small energy spread during laser plasma acceleration.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Low transverse emittance electron bunches from two-color laser-ionization injection

A method is proposed to generate low emittance electron bunches from two color laser pulses in a laser-plasma accelerator. A two-region gas structure is used, containing a short region of a high-Z gas (e.g., krypton) for ionization injection, followed by a longer region of a low-Z gas for post-acceleration. A long-laser-wavelength (e.g., 5 μm) pump pulse excites plasma wake without triggering the inner-shell electron ionization of the high-Z gas due to low electric fields. A short-laser-wavelength (e.g., 0.4 μm) injection pulse, located at a trapping phase of the wake, ionizes the inner-shell electrons of the high-Z gas, resulting in ionization-induced trapping. Compared with a single-pulse ionization injection, this scheme offers an order of magnitude smaller residual transverse momentum of the electron bunch, which is a result of the smaller vector potential amplitude of the injection pulse. © 2013 SPIE.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗