Autoresonant laser acceleration of electrons in a strongly magnetized plasma solenoid

TL;DR

This paper explores the use of autoresonant laser acceleration to energize electrons within a strongly magnetized plasma solenoid, proposing a potential all-optical setup for efficient electron acceleration.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to electron acceleration leveraging autoresonance in a strongly magnetized plasma, including analysis of configurations and efficiency estimates.

Findings

Energetic electron bunches can be generated effectively in realistic setups.

Autoresonance conditions can be modified but still enable efficient acceleration.

Collective effects do not prevent successful electron energization.

Abstract

Direct laser acceleration of electrons is considered in a strongly magnetized plasmoid with the magnetic field strength allowing for reaching the auto-resonance. The plasmoid may be optically created by irradiation of specially designed targets with an auxiliary intense laser beam at the previous stage of interaction in a possible all-optical setup. Specifics of the strongly magnetized plasma solenoid may be critically important for the resonant processes where a small deviation of the parameters destroys the matching conditions. The process of the autoresonant electron acceleration is analyzed for different configurations inherent in the possible realizations of the setup, estimates for the efficiency of acceleration and resonance magnetic fields are proposed. Despite the modifications of the autoresonance conditions and the presence of collective effects, generation of energetic electron bunches in a realistic setup may be possible and effective.