Gas cell density characterization for laser wakefield acceleration

TL;DR

This paper investigates the control of plasma density in laser wakefield accelerators by characterizing a gas cell through experiments and simulations, enabling precise density profile management for improved accelerator stability.

Contribution

It introduces a combined experimental and simulation approach to characterize and control gas cell density profiles for laser wakefield acceleration.

Findings

Good agreement between experiments and fluid simulations.

Gas cell parameters can be finely tuned to control density profiles.

Enhanced stability of laser plasma electron injectors.

Abstract

In the design of laser plasma electron injectors for multi-stage laser driven wakefield accelerators, the control of plasma density is a key element to stabilize the acceleration process. A cell with variable parameters is used to confine the gas and tailor the density profile. The gas filling process was characterized both experimentally and by fluid simulations. Results show a good agreement between experiments and simulations. Simulations were also used to study the effect of each of the gas cell parameters on the density distribution and show the possibility to finely control the density profile.