On radiative damping in plasma-based accelerators

TL;DR

This paper investigates radiative damping effects in plasma-based accelerators, showing that electrons can achieve unlimited acceleration despite radiation reaction forces, with energy spread decreasing over time.

Contribution

It demonstrates that radiation reaction does not limit electron acceleration and identifies self-similar solutions governing long-term behavior.

Findings

Electron acceleration is not limited by radiation reaction.

Electrons can undergo unlimited acceleration under certain conditions.

Energy spread decreases over time in the asymptotic limit.

Abstract

Radiative damping in plasma-based electron accelerators is analyzed. The electron dynamics under combined influence of the constant accelerating force and the classical radiation reaction force is studied. It is shown that electron acceleration cannot be limited by radiation reaction. If initially the accelerating force was stronger than the radiation reaction force then the electron acceleration is unlimited. Otherwise the electron is decelerated by radiative damping up to a certain instant of time and then accelerated without limits. Regardless of the initial conditions the infinite-time asymptotic behavior of an electron is governed by self-similar solution providing unlimited acceleration. The relative energy spread induced by the radiative damping decreases with time in the infinite-time limit.