Controlling fast-electron-beam divergence using two laser pulses

Scott, R. H. H. and Beaucourt, C. and Schlenvoigt, H. -P. and Markey, K. and Lancaster, K. L. and Ridgers, C. P. and Brenner, C. M. and Pasley, J. and Gray, R. J. and Musgrave, I. O. and Robinson, A. P. L. and Li, K. and Notley, M. M. and Davies, J. R. and Baton, S. D. and Santos, J. J. and Feugeas, J. -L. and Nicolai, Ph. and Malka, G. and Tikhonchuk, V. T. and McKenna, P. and Neely, D. and Rose, S. J. and Norreys, P. A. (2012) Controlling fast-electron-beam divergence using two laser pulses. Physical Review Letters, 109 (1). 015001. ISSN 1079-7114 (https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.015001)

Full text not available in this repository.Request a copy

Abstract

This Letter describes the first experimental demonstration of the guiding of a relativistic electron beam in a solid target using two colinear, relativistically intense, picosecond laser pulses. The first pulse creates a magnetic field that guides the higher-current, fast-electron beam generated by the second pulse. The effects of intensity ratio, delay, total energy, and intrinsic prepulse are examined. Thermal and K alpha imaging show reduced emission size, increased peak emission, and increased total emission at delays of 4-6 ps, an intensity ratio of 10:1 (second: first) and a total energy of 186 J. In comparison to a single, high-contrast shot, the inferred fast-electron divergence is reduced by 2.7 times, while the fast-electron current density is increased by a factor of 1.8. The enhancements are reproduced with modeling and are shown to be due to the self-generation of magnetic fields. Such a scheme could be of considerable benefit to fast-ignition inertial fusion.

CORE (COnnecting REpositories)