High-energy-density electron beam generation in ultra intense laser-plasma interaction

By using a two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulation,we demonstrate a scheme for highenergy-density electron beam generation by irradiating an ultra intense laser pulse onto an aluminum（Al） target.With the laser having a peak intensity of 4×10^23W cm^-2,a high quality electron beam with a maximum density of 117 nc and a kinetic energy density up to8.79×10^18J m^-3 is generated.The temperature of the electron beam can be 416 Me V,and the beam divergence is only 7.25°.As the laser peak intensity increases（e.g.,1024 W cm^-2）,both the beam energy density（3.56×10^19J m^-3） and the temperature（545 Me V） are increased,and the beam collimation is well controlled.The maximum density of the electron beam can even reach 180 nc.Such beams should have potential applications in the areas of antiparticle generation,laboratory astrophysics,etc.

Investigation of stimulated Raman scattering in longitudinal magnetized plasma by theory and kinetic simulation

Stimulated Raman scattering(SRS)in a longitudinal magnetized plasma is studied by theoretical analysis and kinetic simulation.The linear growth rate derived via one-dimensional fluid theory shows the dependence on the plasma density,electron temperature,and magnetic field intensity.One-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations are carried out to examine the kinetic evolution of SRS under low magnetic intensity of w_c/w_0<0.01.There are two density regions distinguished in which the absolute growth of enveloped electrostatic waves and spectrum present quite different characteristics.In a relatively low-density plasma(ne~0.20 nc),the plasma wave presents typical absolute growth and the magnetic field alleviates linear SRS.While in the plasma whose density is near the cut-off point(ne~0.23 nc),the magnetic field induces a spectral splitting of the backscattering and forward-scattering waves.It has been observed in simulations and verified by theoretical analysis.Due to this effect,the onset of reflectivity delays,and the plasma waves form high-frequency oscillation and periodic envelope structure.The split wavenumber Dk/k0 is proportional to the magnetic field intensity and plasma density.These studies provide novel insight into the kinetic behavior of SRS in magnetized plasmas.

Laser chirp controlled relativistic few-cycle mid-infrared pulse generation

Relativistic few-cycle mid-infrared(mid-IR)pulses are unique tools for strong-field physics and ultrafast science,but are difficult to generate with traditional nonlinear optical methods.Here,we propose a scheme to generate such pulses with high efficiency via plasma-based frequency modulation with a negatively chirped laser pulse(NCLP).The NCLP is rapidly compressed longitudinally due to dispersion and plasma etching,and its central frequency is downshifted via photon deceleration due to the enhanced laser intensity and plasma density modulations.Simulation results show that few-cycle mid-IR pulses with the maximum center wavelength of 7.9µm and pulse intensity of a_(MIR)=2.9 can be generated under a proper chirp parameter.Further,the maximum energy conversion efficiency can approach 5.0%.Such a relativistic mid-IR source is promising for a wide range of applications.

Efficient bright γ-ray vortex emission from a laser-illuminated light-fan-in-channel target

X/γ-rays have many potential applications in laboratory astrophysics and particle physics.Although several methods have been proposed for generating electron,positron,and X/γ-photon beams with angular momentum(AM),the generation of ultra-intense brilliant γ-rays is still challenging.Here,we present an all-optical scheme to generate a high-energy γ-photon beam with large beam angular momentum(BAM),small divergence,and high brilliance.In the first stage,a circularly polarized laser pulse with intensity of 10^(22) W/cm^(2) irradiates a micro-channel target,drags out electrons from the channel wall,and accelerates them to high energies via the longitudinal electric fields.During the process,the laser transfers its spin angular momentum(SAM)to the electrons’orbital angular momentum(OAM).In the second stage,the drive pulse is reflected by the attached fan-foil and a vortex laser pulse is thus formed.In the third stage,the energetic electrons collide head-on with the reflected vortex pulse and transfer their AM to the γ-photons via nonlinear Compton scattering.Three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations show that the peak brilliance of the γ-ray beam is∼10^(22) photons·s^(-1)·mm^(-2)·mrad^(-2) per 0.1% bandwidth at 1 MeV with a peak instantaneous power of 25 TW and averaged BAM of 10^(6)h/photon.The AM conversion efficiency from laser to the γ-photons is unprecedentedly 0.67%.