Multi-chromatic narrow-energy-spread electron bunches from laser wakefield acceleration with dual-color lasers

TL;DR

This paper proposes a novel laser wakefield acceleration method using dual-color lasers to produce low-energy-spread, multi-chromatic electron bunches, demonstrated through simulations, with potential applications in X-ray source generation.

Contribution

The paper introduces a new dual-color laser technique for controlled ionization injection, enabling the creation of separated, narrow-energy-spread electron bunches in plasma acceleration.

Findings

Successfully demonstrated multi-bunch electron generation in simulations.

Achieved low energy spread in electron bunches.

Potential for multi-chromatic X-ray source development.

Abstract

A method based on laser wakefield acceleration with controlled ionization injection triggered by another frequency-tripled laser is proposed, which can produce electron bunches with low energy spread. As two color pulses co-propagate in the background plasma, the peak amplitude of the combined laser field is modulated in time and space during the laser propagation due to the plasma dispersion. Ionization injection occurs when the peak amplitude exceeds certain threshold. The threshold is exceeded for limited duration periodically at different propagation distances, leading to multiple ionization injections and separated electron bunches. The method is demonstrated through multi-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Such electron bunches may be used to generate multi-chromatic X-ray sources for a variety of applications.