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| Open AccessEfficiently accelerated free electrons by metallic laser accelerator
Accelerated electron beams are potentially useful for imaging and different type of light sources. Here the authors demonstrate electron acceleration using metallic laser acceleration with efficiency comparable to that of dielectric laser accelerators.
- Dingguo Zheng
- , Siyuan Huang
- & Jianqi Li
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| Open AccessUltra-short pulse laser acceleration of protons to 80 MeV from cryogenic hydrogen jets tailored to near-critical density
Laser-produced plasma can be used for particle acceleration in different schemes. Here the authors demonstrate proton acceleration from the intense ultrashort laser pulse interaction with micron-sized cryogenic hydrogen jet.
- Martin Rehwald
- , Stefan Assenbaum
- & Karl Zeil
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| Open AccessRefractive plasma optics for relativistic laser beams
Intense laser interaction with matter creates plasma which can act as a nonlinear optical medium. Here the authors demonstrate plasma as a refractive optics for relativistic intensity radiation, evident by the acceleration of multiple electron beams from a single laser pulse passing through the plasma.
- Omri Seemann
- , Yang Wan
- & Victor Malka
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| Open AccessAttosecond-Angstrom free-electron-laser towards the cold beam limit
Free-electron lasers (FELs) can produce bright X-ray pulses, but require high quality electron beams. Here the authors show how to generate and preserve ultrabright electron beams from plasma-based accelerators for ultra-compact, high-brightness X-ray FELs.
- A. F. Habib
- , G. G. Manahan
- & B. Hidding
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| Open AccessGeneration of ultrahigh-brightness pre-bunched beams from a plasma cathode for X-ray free-electron lasers
Laser-produced plasma can be used for acceleration and tuning of particle beams. Here the authors discuss the generation of a bunched electron beam using simulations and its application to X-ray free-electron laser.
- Xinlu Xu
- , Fei Li
- & Warren B. Mori
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| Open AccessProton stopping measurements at low velocity in warm dense carbon
Charged particle interaction and energy dissipation in plasma is fundamentally interesting. Here the authors study proton stopping in laser-produced plasma for the moderate to strong coupling with electrons.
- S. Malko
- , W. Cayzac
- & L. Volpe
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| Open AccessDemonstration of non-destructive and isotope-sensitive material analysis using a short-pulsed laser-driven epi-thermal neutron source
High-power laser beams can be used to accelerate neutron beams. Here the authors demonstrate the application of laser-driven neutron beams to neutron resonance spectroscopy and neutron resonance imaging.
- Marc Zimmer
- , Stefan Scheuren
- & Markus Roth
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| Open AccessVacuum laser acceleration of super-ponderomotive electrons using relativistic transparency injection
Compact electron accelerators based on laser-plasma acceleration scheme may be useful for future light sources, radiation therapy etc. Here the authors demonstrate electron acceleration in laser plasma interaction via vacuum laser acceleration and relativistic transparency injection.
- P. K. Singh
- , F.-Y. Li
- & S. Palaniyappan
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| Open AccessForward-looking insights in laser-generated ultra-intense γ-ray and neutron sources for nuclear application and science
Laser-plasma interaction can provide alternative platform over conventional method for particle and photon beam generation. Here the authors demonstrate generation of gamma ray and neutron beams from intense laser interaction with near critical density plasma.
- M. M. Günther
- , O. N. Rosmej
- & N. E. Andreev
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| Open AccessDemonstration of a compact plasma accelerator powered by laser-accelerated electron beams
Particle accelerators based on laser- or electron-driven plasma waves promise compact sources for relativistic electron bunches. Here, Kurz and Heinemann et al. demonstrate a hybrid two-stage configuration, combining the individual features of both accelerating schemes.
- T. Kurz
- , T. Heinemann
- & A. Irman
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| Open AccessAutomation and control of laser wakefield accelerators using Bayesian optimization
Laser wakefield accelerators are compact sources of ultra-relativistic electrons which are highly sensitive to many control parameters. Here the authors present an automated machine learning based method for the efficient multi-dimensional optimization of these plasma-based particle accelerators.
- R. J. Shalloo
- , S. J. D. Dann
- & M. J. V. Streeter
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| Open AccessLaser-driven x-ray and proton micro-source and application to simultaneous single-shot bi-modal radiographic imaging
Here the authors show a synchronized single-shot bi-modal x-ray and proton source based on laser-generated plasma. This source can be useful for radiographic and tomographic imaging.
- T. M. Ostermayr
- , C. Kreuzer
- & J. Schreiber
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| Open AccessHigh-resolution sampling of beam-driven plasma wakefields
Controlled particle acceleration in plasmas requires precise measurements of the excited wakefield. Here the authors report and demonstrate a high-resolution method to measure the effective longitudinal electric field of a beam-driven plasma-wakefield accelerator.
- S. Schröder
- , C. A. Lindstrøm
- & J. Osterhoff
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| Open AccessDissipation of electron-beam-driven plasma wakes
Plasma wakefield accelerators promise compact, affordable future particle accelerators, but require deposition of enormous energy into a small volume. Here, the authors measure and simulate how this energy transfers from the wake into surrounding plasma, a process that ultimately governs the accelerator’s repetition rate.
- Rafal Zgadzaj
- , T. Silva
- & M. C. Downer
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| Open AccessPhoton deceleration in plasma wakes generates single-cycle relativistic tunable infrared pulses
Plasma can act as strong nonlinear refractive index medium that can be exploited to downshift the frequency of a laser pulse. Here, the authors show the generation of single-cycle tunable infrared pulses using strong density gradients associated with laser-produced wakes in plasmas.
- Zan Nie
- , Chih-Hao Pai
- & Chan Joshi
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| Open AccessAll-optical structuring of laser-driven proton beam profiles
Shaping particle beams generated from laser-plasma accelerators is challenging. Here the authors demonstrate an all-optical method to structure the accelerated proton beam by modulating and imprinting the spatial laser profile onto the proton beam.
- Lieselotte Obst-Huebl
- , Tim Ziegler
- & Karl Zeil
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| Open AccessProbing warm dense matter using femtosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy with a laser-produced betatron source
Understanding the ultrafast dynamics of materials under extreme conditions is challenging. Here the authors use a femtosecond betatron X-ray source to investigate the solid to dense plasma phase transition in copper using XAS with unprecedented time resolution.
- B. Mahieu
- , N. Jourdain
- & L. Lecherbourg
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Article
| Open AccessRelativistic magnetic reconnection driven by a laser interacting with a micro-scale plasma slab
Plasma releases magnetic energy by magnetic reconnection but the clear evidence of this phenomenon in relativistic regime is still lacking. Here the authors present a scheme for laboratory observation of the relativistic magnetic reconnection driven by laser-produced energetic electrons in the plasma.
- Longqing Yi
- , Baifei Shen
- & Tünde Fülöp
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| Open AccessControl of laser plasma accelerated electrons for light sources
Electron beam quality in accelerators is crucial for light source application. Here the authors demonstrate beam conditioning of laser plasma electrons thanks to a specific transport line enabling the control of divergence, energy, steering and dispersion and the application to observe undulator radiation.
- T. André
- , I. A. Andriyash
- & M.-E. Couprie
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| Open AccessMicro-scale fusion in dense relativistic nanowire array plasmas
Neutron beams are useful studying fundamental physics problems, fusion process and material properties. Here the authors use intense laser irradiation of deuterated nanowire array targets to create high energy density plasmas capable of efficient generation of ultrafast neutron pulses.
- Alden Curtis
- , Chase Calvi
- & Jorge J. Rocca
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| Open AccessNear-100 MeV protons via a laser-driven transparency-enhanced hybrid acceleration scheme
It is a challenge to scale up laser-ion acceleration to higher ion energies. Here the authors demonstrate a hybrid acceleration scheme based on the relativistic induced transparency mechanism using linearly polarised laser interaction with foil targets and its future implication in using high power lasers.
- A. Higginson
- , R. J. Gray
- & P. McKenna
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| Open AccessPlasma density limits for hole boring by intense laser pulses
Different energy transport mechanisms come into play when intense laser pulses interact with dense plasma. Here the authors provide a limit on the plasma density reachable with an intense laser and an insight into the hole boring process.
- Natsumi Iwata
- , Sadaoki Kojima
- & Kunioki Mima
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| Open AccessIsolated proton bunch acceleration by a petawatt laser pulse
Monoenergetic proton beams can be useful in many applications but their generation from laser irradiation of targets is challenging. Here the authors demonstrate a laser-accelerated proton bunch with improved density and energy resolution by using a refined target.
- P. Hilz
- , T. M. Ostermayr
- & J. Schreiber
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| Open AccessLaser-accelerated particle beams for stress testing of materials
Recently, there has been significant progress on the application of laser-generated proton beams in material science. Here the authors demonstrate the benefit of employing such beams in stress testing different materials by examining their mechanical, optical, electrical, and morphological properties.
- M. Barberio
- , M. Scisciò
- & P. Antici
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| Open AccessSelf-generated surface magnetic fields inhibit laser-driven sheath acceleration of high-energy protons
Laser-generated ion acceleration has received increasing attention due to recent progress in super-intense lasers. Here the authors demonstrate the role of the self-generated magnetic field on the ion acceleration and limitations on the energy scaling with laser intensity.
- M. Nakatsutsumi
- , Y. Sentoku
- & J. Fuchs
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| Open AccessGuiding of relativistic electron beams in dense matter by laser-driven magnetostatic fields
Efficient energy transport by laser-driven relativistic electron beams is crucial in many applications including inertial confinement fusion, and particle acceleration. Here the authors demonstrate relativistic electron beam guiding in dense plasma with an externally imposed high magnetic field.
- M. Bailly-Grandvaux
- , J. J. Santos
- & Z. Zhang
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| Open AccessDemonstration of a beam loaded nanocoulomb-class laser wakefield accelerator
Higher beam quality and stability are desired in laser-plasma accelerators for their applications in compact light sources. Here the authors demonstrate in laser plasma wakefield electron acceleration that the beam loading effect can be employed to improve beam quality by controlling the beam charge.
- J. P. Couperus
- , R. Pausch
- & A. Irman
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| Open AccessSingle-stage plasma-based correlated energy spread compensation for ultrahigh 6D brightness electron beams
Controlling and improving electron beam parameters are crucial for their application in free electron laser and X-ray sources. Here the authors generate quality electron beams with reduced energy spread from plasma accelerators by using a tailored escort electron bunch with the main accelerating bunch.
- G. G. Manahan
- , A. F. Habib
- & B. Hidding
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| Open AccessTowards optical polarization control of laser-driven proton acceleration in foils undergoing relativistic transparency
Intense laser pulse interaction with ultra-thin foils constitutes a promising approach for proton acceleration. Here the authors show that the degree of ellipticity in the laser beam polarization can be used to control the proton beam profile.
- Bruno Gonzalez-Izquierdo
- , Martin King
- & Paul McKenna
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Article
| Open AccessObservation of acceleration and deceleration in gigaelectron-volt-per-metre gradient dielectric wakefield accelerators
Wakefield accelerators are a cheaper and compact alternative to conventional particle accelerators for high-energy physics and coherent x-ray sources. Here, the authors demonstrate a field gradient in excess of a gigaelectron-volt-per-metre using a terahertz-frequency wakefield supported by a dielectric lined-waveguide.
- B. D. O’Shea
- , G. Andonian
- & J. B. Rosenzweig
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| Open AccessSelf-mapping the longitudinal field structure of a nonlinear plasma accelerator cavity
Extraction of ultra-low emittance bunches is an issue to be addressed for future applications of plasma wakefield accelerators. Here, the authors show that the field structure of the plasma could be suitable for this, by measuring the field's longitudinal variation produced by a relativistic electron bunch.
- C. E. Clayton
- , E. Adli
- & V. Yakimenko
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| Open AccessDemonstration of a positron beam-driven hollow channel plasma wakefield accelerator
Plasma wakefield accelerators produce gradients that are orders of magnitude larger than in conventional particle accelerator, but beams tend to be disrupted by transverse forces. Here the authors create an extended hollow plasma channel, which accelerates positrons without generating transverse forces.
- Spencer Gessner
- , Erik Adli
- & Gerald Yocky
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| Open AccessEfficient quasi-monoenergetic ion beams from laser-driven relativistic plasmas
Table-top laser-plasma ion accelerators have many potential applications, but achieving simultaneous narrow energy spread and high efficiency remains a challenge. Here, the authors produce ion beams with up to 18 MeV per nucleon whilst keeping the energy spread reduced through a self-organized process.
- Sasi Palaniyappan
- , Chengkun Huang
- & Juan C. Fernández
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| Open AccessTerahertz-driven linear electron acceleration
Pulses of light offer a way to create particle accelerators that are a fraction of the size of conventional approaches. Here, the authors demonstrate the linear acceleration of electrons with kiloelectronvolt energy gain and in extremely short bunches using optically-generated terahertz pulses.
- Emilio A. Nanni
- , Wenqian R. Huang
- & Franz X. Kärtner
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| Open AccessQuantitative X-ray phase-contrast microtomography from a compact laser-driven betatron source
With excellent resolving power and tissue contrast, X-ray phase-contrast imaging holds great promise but the source requirements have limited its use. Here, Wenz et al. show a phase-contrast microtomogram of a biological sample using X-ray radiation driven by a high-power laser.
- J. Wenz
- , S. Schleede
- & S. Karsch
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| Open AccessOptical control of hard X-ray polarization by electron injection in a laser wakefield accelerator
Radiation sources driven by laser-plasma accelerators have the potential to produce shorter bursts of radiation at lower cost than those based on conventional accelerators. Schnell et al.demonstrate the ability to control the polarization of the bursts of hard X-rays produced by such a source.
- Michael Schnell
- , Alexander Sävert
- & Christian Spielmann
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| Open AccessQuasi-monoenergetic laser-plasma acceleration of electrons to 2 GeV
Laser-plasma accelerators can produce high-energy electron bunches over just a few centimetres of distance, offering possible table-top accelerator capabilities. Wang et al.break the current 1 GeV barrier by applying a petawatt laser to accelerate electrons nearly monoenergetically up to 2 GeV.
- Xiaoming Wang
- , Rafal Zgadzaj
- & M. C. Downer
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Observation of longitudinal and transverse self-injections in laser-plasma accelerators
Laser-plasma accelerators can produce giga electronvolt energy electrons over centimetre scales, but their properties depend on the initial injection into the accelerator. Corde et al.study self-injection of electrons into the plasma wake and identify both transverse and longitudinal injection mechanisms.
- S. Corde
- , C. Thaury
- & V. Malka
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| Open AccessDirect observation of prompt pre-thermal laser ion sheath acceleration
High-intensity laser-plasma ion generation is promising as a compact proton source for applications like ion beam therapy. Using a femtosecond table-top laser system, Zeilet al. show that protons efficiently gain energy in the pre-thermal intra-pulse phase of the generation process.
- K. Zeil
- , J. Metzkes
- & U. Schramm
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Current drive at plasma densities required for thermonuclear reactors
Future tokamak nuclear fusion reactors depend on efficient current drive methods, but it is hard to penetrate the high-density plasma in these devices. In this paper the authors show that radio frequency waves coupled to lower hybrid plasma waves, when the peripheral temperature of the plasma is high, can penetrate the plasma core.
- R. Cesario
- , L. Amicucci
- & F. Zonca