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Characterization and application of hard x-ray betatron radiation generated by relativistic electrons from a laser-wakefield accelerator

Part of: Energetic Electrons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2015

Michael Schnell ,
Alexander Sävert Open the ORCID record for Alexander Sävert [Opens in a new window] ,
Ingo Uschmann ,
Oliver Jansen ,
Malte Christoph Kaluza  and
Christian Spielmann
Michael Schnell*
Affiliation:
Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University, Max-Wien Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
Alexander Sävert
Affiliation:
Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University, Max-Wien Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
Ingo Uschmann
Affiliation:
Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University, Max-Wien Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany Helmholtz Institute Jena, Friedrich Schiller University, Fröbelstieg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
Oliver Jansen
Affiliation:
Institute for Laser- and Plasmaphysics, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
Malte Christoph Kaluza
Affiliation:
Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University, Max-Wien Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany Helmholtz Institute Jena, Friedrich Schiller University, Fröbelstieg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
Christian Spielmann
Affiliation:
Institute of Optics and Quantum Electronics, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich Schiller University, Max-Wien Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany Helmholtz Institute Jena, Friedrich Schiller University, Fröbelstieg 3, 07743 Jena, Germany
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

The necessity for compact table-top x-ray sources with higher brightness, shorter wavelength and shorter pulse duration has led to the development of complementary sources based on laser-plasma accelerators, in contrast to conventional accelerators. Relativistic interaction of short-pulse lasers with underdense plasmas results in acceleration of electrons and in consequence in the emission of spatially coherent radiation, which is known in the literature as betatron radiation. In this article, we report on our recent results in the rapidly developing field of secondary x-ray radiation generated by high-energy electron pulses. The betatron radiation is characterized with a novel setup allowing to measure the energy, the spatial energy distribution in the far-field of the beam and the source size in a single laser shot. Furthermore, the polarization state is measured for each laser shot. In this way, the emitted betatron x-rays can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool to retrieve very subtle information of the electron dynamics within the plasma wave. Parallel to the experimental work, 3D particle-in-cell simulations were performed, proved to be in good agreement with the experimental results.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Plasma Physics , Volume 81 , Issue 4 , August 2015 , 475810401
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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References

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