# Accelerating field enhancement due to ion motion in plasma wakefield accelerators

## TL;DR

This paper investigates how ion motion in plasma wakefield accelerators leads to a temporary increase in the electric field, affecting experimental interpretation and beam acceleration quality.

## Contribution

It reveals the role of ion motion in enhancing the electric field in plasma wakefield accelerators, a factor previously underexplored.

## Key findings

- Ion motion causes a temporal increase in the longitudinal electric field.
- Energy redistribution in transverse direction influences wave dynamics.
- Implications for experimental interpretation and beam quality enhancement.

## Abstract

Ion motion in plasma wakefield accelerators can cause temporal increase of the longitudinal electric field shortly before the wave breaks. The increase is caused by re-distribution of the wave energy in transverse direction and may be important for correct interpretation of experimental results and acceleration of high-quality beams.