High-brilliance synchrotron radiation induced by the plasma magnetostatic mode

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates through simulations that a plasma magnetostatic mode can generate high-brilliance synchrotron radiation when interacted with a relativistic electron beam, potentially enabling new ultrashort wavelength light sources.

Contribution

It provides the first simulation-based evidence of plasma magnetostatic mode-induced FEL radiation and discusses its potential for experimental realization with current laser technology.

Findings

Magnetostatic mode produces FEL-type synchrotron radiation.

Interaction with relativistic electron beam confirms the mode's signature.

Potential for generating high-brilliance ultrashort wavelength radiation.

Abstract

Using multi-dimensional PIC simulations we show that the magnetic undulator-type field of the plasma magnetostatic mode is indeed produced by the interaction of a laser pulse with a relativistic ionization front, as predicted by linear theory for a cold plasma. When the front with this magnetostatic mode is followed by a relativistic electron beam, the interaction of the beam with this magnetic field, produces FEL-type synchrotron radiation, providing a direct signature of the magnetostatic mode. The possibility of generating readily detectable ultrashort wavelength radiation using this mode, by employing state-of-the-art laser systems, is demonstrated, thus opening the way towards experimental observation of the hitherto unseen magnetostatic mode and the use of this plasma FEL mechanism to provide a source of high-brilliance ultrashort wavelength radiation.