Synchrotron radiation from a curved plasma channel laser wakefield accelerator

TL;DR

This paper explores how laser pulses in curved plasma channels can accelerate electrons along curved paths, leading to synchrotron radiation emission, with models and simulations demonstrating feasible parameters for keV photon production.

Contribution

It introduces analytical models and simulations for laser guiding, wakefield generation, and electron steering in curved plasma channels, highlighting the potential for synchrotron radiation in this setup.

Findings

Electrons emit 0.1 photons per cm at ~2 GeV energy

Average photon energy is in the multiple keV range

Feasible parameters for experimental realization

Abstract

A laser pulse guided in a curved plasma channel can excite wakefields that steer electrons along an arched trajectory. As the electrons are accelerated along the curved channel, they emit synchrotron radiation. We present simple analytical models and simulations examining laser pulse guiding, wakefield generation, electron steering, and synchrotron emission in curved plasma channels. For experimentally realizable parameters, a ~2 GeV electron emits 0.1 photons per cm with an average photon energy of multiple keV.