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Pukhov, Meyer-ter-Vehn, PRL 76, 3975 (1996)
Laser pulse1019 W/cm2
plasma box (ne/nc=0.6)
B ~ mcp/e ~ 108 Gauss
Relativistic electron beamj ~ en
cc ~ 1012 A/cm210 kA of 1-20 MeV electrons
Lecture 2: Basic plasma equations, self-focusing, direct laser acceleration
2
Laser Interaction with Dense Matter
Plasma approximation:
Laser field at a > 1 so large that atoms ionize within less than laser cycle
Free classical electrons (no bound states, no Dirac equation)
Non-neutral plasma ( , usually fixed ion background) electron ionn n
3
Single electron plasma (ncrit = 1021cm-3)
In plasma, laser interaction generates additional
• E-fields (due to separation of electrons from ions)
• B-fields (due to laser-driven electron currents)
They are quasi-stationary and of same order as laser fields:
12L 03 10 V/m E a
8L 010 Gauss B a
Plasma is governed by collective oscillatory electron motion.
4
The Virtual Laser Plasma Laboratory
Fields
22
2
1cm
p
Bpm
qEq
dt
pd
Particles
109 particles in 108 grid cells are treated on 512 Processors
of parallel computer
A. Pukhov, J. Plas. Phys. 61, 425 (1999)
Three-dimensional electromagnetic fully-relativistic Particle-Cell-Code
0
4
1
41
Bdiv
Ediv
t
B
cErot
jct
E
cBrot
5
Theoretical description of plasma dynamics
Distribution function: ( , , )f r p t
(collisions ?( / ) ( , , ) 0 ) v e E v c B f r p tt r p
Kinetic (Vlasov) equation ( ):2, 1 ( / )p mv p mc
Fluid description:Approximate equations for density, momentum, ect. functions:
3( , ) ( , , ) N r t f r p t d p
3( , ) ( , , ) P r t p f r p t d p
6
Starting from Maxwell equations
0
4 0 , 0
4 ( ) e
EB B B A A
c t c
B AE E e N E
c t c
J
tN
Problem: Light waves in plasma
2 with electron momentu/ m and 1 / ) ,(eJ eN P m P mu P mc
and assuming that only electrons with density Ne contribute to the plasma current
while immobile ions with uniform density Ni =N0/Z form a neutralizing background.
22 0
2 20
4( , ) , ( , ) , ( , ) , ( , ) , ,e
p
eA e P N e Na r t r t p r t n r t
mc mc mc N m
using normalized quantities and plasma frequency
222
2 2 2
1 ,p np
ac t c t c
2 2 2( / )( 1)p c n
derive
7
In this approximation, electrons are described as cold fluid elements which have relativistic momentum and satisfy the equation of motion
where pressure terms proportional to plasma temperature have been neglected.Using again the potentials A and and replacing the total time derivative by by partial derivatives, find
and show that this leads to the equation of motion of a cold electron fluid
written again in normalized quantities (see previous problem). Here, make use of
( , ) / ( / )dP r t dt e E u c B
( , ) ( )A u
u P r t e At c t c
1( ) ( ) ( ) ,p a u p a
c t
P mu
2 2relations and 1 / 2 ( ) ( ) . p p u p c u p
Problem: Derive cold plasma electron fluid equation
8
1( ) ( ) ( )p a u p a
c t
Basic solution of
Solution for electron fluid initially at rest, before hit by laser pulse,
implying balance between the electrostatic force and theponderomotive force
This force is equivalent to the dimensional force density
and = p a
2 2 21 1 / 2p a a
2 22
0 2 8p E
F N mc
It describes how plasma electrons are pushed in front of a laser pulseand the radial pressure equilibrium in laser plasma channels, in whichlight pressure expels electrons building up radial electric fields.
9
For low laser intensities ( ), the solution implies and .The wave equation for laser propagation in plasma
p a
1a 1 1n
then leads to the plasma dispersion relation 2 2 2 2
p c k For increasing light intensity, the plasma frequency is modified
22 2
,
( , )4
( , )e
p rel p
N r tn e
m r t
by changes of electron density and relativistic – factor, giving rise to effects ofrelativistic non-linear optics.
Propagation of laser light in plasma
2 222
2 2 2 2
1 ,p pna
a ac t c c
10
Relativistic Non-Linear Optics
Self-focussing: vph= c/nR
Profile steepening: vg = cn
R
p2= 4e2 ne
/(m<
nR = (1 - p2/ 2)1/2
2 = p2 + c2k2
=(1- v2/c2)-1/2
Induced transparency:
11
Problem: Derive phase and group velocity of laser wave in plasma
Starting from the plasma dispersion relation
show that the phase velocity of laser light in plasma is
and the group velocity
where nR is the plasma index of refraction
/ /phase Rv k c n
/ ,group Rv d dk cn
2 21 / .R pn
2 2 2 2 ,p c k
12
3D-PIC simulation of laser beam selffocussing in plasma
Pukhov, Meyer-ter-Vehn, PRL 76, 3975 (1996)
Laser pulse1019 W/cm2
plasma box (ne/nc=0.6)
13
0Re ( ) ( , , ) exp( )y za e ie a r z t ikz i t
2 20 0 0 0 0( , , ) , / / a a r z t a t a a z ka
22
022
2
10 2 ( , ) 0ik a
c tra
Problem: Derive envelope equation
Consider circularly polarized light beam
Confirm that the squared amplitude depends only on the slowly varyingenvelope function a0(r,z,t), but not on the rapidly oscillating phase function
Derive under these conditions the envelope equation for propagation invacuum (use comoving coordinate=z-ct, neglect second derivatives):
14
0
1 2 ( , ) 0r ik a r z
r r r z
Problem: Verify Gaussian focus solution
Show that the Gaussian envelope ansatz2
0 0 ( , ) exp( ( ) ( )( / ) )a r z P z Q z r r
2 2 2 20
2/[ (1 / )]
0 2 22 20
/ ( , ) exp arctan
1 /1 /
Rr r z LR
R RR
z Le z ra r z i i
L r z Lz L
inserted into the envelope equation
leads to
where is the Rayleigh length giving the length of the focal region.20 / 2RL kr
15
Relativistic self-focusing
2 21/ 1/ 1 1 2a a
22 222
2 2 2 2
1 1 ,
2p p ana
a ac t c c
2 22 0
0 022 ( , )
2p a
ik a r z az c
For increasing light intensity, non-linear effects in light propagation first show up In the relativistic factor giving
and leads to the envelope equation (using !)2 2 2 2p c k
While is defocusing the beam (diffraction), the termis focusing the beam. Beyond the threshold power
2 2 20 0( / )( / 2)p c a a2
0a
22 ( / ) 17.4 GW ( / )crit o p crit eP P n n the beam undergoes relativistic self-focusing.
16
2D versus 3D relativistic self-focusing
Relativistic self-focusing develops differently in 2D and 3D geometry.Scaling with beam radius R :
2 21/ R
diffraction
2 2 2 2 2 20 0( / )( / 2) / (for 3 D: )p c a P R P R a
2 2 2 20 0( / )( / 2) / (for 2D: )p c a P R P Ra
relativistic non-linearity
2D leads to a finite beam radius (R~1/P), while 3D leads to beam collapse (R->0).For a Gaussian beam with radius r0:
22 ( / ) 17.4 GW ( / )crit o p crit eP P n n
2 2
0
2 2 20 0( /16 )/ 2 P cP R I a R
2
2
22 202 2 3
1
32
( ) 41 p
c
dR za R
dz k R
power:
beam radius evolution (Shvets, priv.comm.):
critical power:
17
3D-PIC simulation of laser beam selffocussing in plasma
Pukhov, Meyer-ter-Vehn, PRL 76, 3975 (1996)
Laser pulse1019 W/cm2
plasma box (ne/nc=0.6)
B ~ mcp/e ~ 108 Gauss
Relativistic electron beamj ~ en
cc ~ 1012 A/cm210 kA of 1-20 MeV electrons
18
Relativistic self-focussing of laser channels
relativistic electrons
laser
B-field
p2
radius
ne
p2= 4e2 ne / meff
2 21R p Ln
Relativistic mass increase () and electron density depletion
(ne )
increases index of refraction in the
channel region, leading to selffocussing
19
Relativistic Laser Plasma ChannelPukhov, Meyer-ter-Vehn, PRL 76, 3975 (1996)
ne/<>ne
Intensity
B-field
Intensity
Ion density
80 fs
330 fs
B
jxIL
20
Plasma channels and electron beams observedC. Gahn et al. PRL 83, 4772
(1999)
gas jet laser
6×1019 W/cm2
observed channel
electron spectrum plasma 1- 4 × 1020 cm-3
21
Scaling of Electron Spectra
Pukhov, Sheng, MtV, Phys. Plasm. 6, 2847 (1999)
electrons
Teff =1.8 (I2/13.7GW)1/2
22
Direct Laser Acceleration versus Wakefield Acceleration
Pukhov, MtV, Sheng, Phys. Plas. 6, 2847 (1999)
plasma channel
EB
laserelectron
Free Electron Laser (FEL) physics
DLA
acceleration by transverse laser field
Non-linear plasma wave
LWFA
Tajima, Dawson, PRL43, 267 (1979)
acceleration by longitudinal wakefield
23
Laser pulse excites plasma wave of length p= c/p
-0.2-0.2
0.20.2eEz/pmc
22
-2-2eEx/0mc
-20-20
2020
px/mc
4040
2020
eEx/0mc
Z / 270 280
33
--332020
-20-20
00px/mc
zoom
-0.2-0.2
0.2
eEz/pmc wakefield breaksafter few oscillations
4040
2020 What drives electrons to ~ 40
in zone behind wavebreaking?
Laser amplitude a0 = 3
Transverse momentum p/mc >> 3
p /mc
zoom3
-3a
20
-20
0
Z / Z / 270 280
z
laser pulse length
p
24
Channel fields and direct laser acceleration
EB
j = efn0cspace chargen = e(1-f)n0
2(1 ) / 2r peE f m R 2 / 2peB f m R
22
2/ 2r p
d Rm eE eB m R
dt Radial electron oscillations
2/p
electronmomenta
L
2 L
p/c)
25
How do the electrons gain energy?
dt p2/2 = e E p = e E|| p|| + e E p
dt p = e E + v Bec
|| = 2 e E|| p||
dt
Gain due to longitudinal (plasma) field:
= 2 e E pdt
Gain due to transverse (laser) field:
-2x103 0 103
||
0
2
x103
Direct LaserAcceleration(long pulses)
Long pulses (>p)
0 104
||
0
104 Laser Wakefield
Acceleration(short pulses)
Short pulses (< p)
26
Selected papers:
C. Gahn, et al. Phys.Rev.Lett. 83, 4772 (1999).
J. Meyer-ter-Vehn, A. Pukhov, Z.M. Sheng, in Atoms, Solids, and Plasmas In Super-Intense Laser Fields (eds. D.Batani, C.J.Joachain, S. Martelucci, A.N.Chester), Kluwer, Dordrecht, 2001.
A. Pukhov, J. Meyer-ter-Vehn, Phys. Rev. Lett. 76, 3975 (1996).
A. Pukhov, Z.M. Sheng, Meyer-ter-Vehn, Phys. Plasmas 6, 2847 (1999)
27
0Re ( ) ( , , ) exp( )y za e ie a r z t ikz i t
2 20 0 0 0 0( , , ) , / / a a r z t a t a a z ka
22
022
2
10 2 ( , ) 0ik a
c tra
Problem: Derive envelope equation
Consider circularly polarized light beam
Confirm that the squared amplitude depends only on the slowly varyingenvelope function a0(r,z,t), but not on the rapidly oscillating phase function
Derive under these conditions the envelope equation for propagation invacuum (use comoving coordinate=z-ct, neglect second derivatives):
28
0
1 2 ( , ) 0r ik a r z
r r r z
Problem: Verify Gaussian focus solution
Show that the Gaussian envelope ansatz2
0 0 ( , ) exp( ( ) ( )( / ) )a r z P z Q z r r
2 2 2 20
2/[ (1 / )]
0 2 22 20
/ ( , ) exp arctan
1 /1 /
Rr r z LR
R RR
z Le z ra r z i i
L r z Lz L
inserted into the envelope equation
leads to
Where is the Rayleigh length giving the length of the focal region.20 / 2RL kr
29
Problem: Derive channel fields
EB
j = efn0cspace chargen = e(1-f)n0
2(1 ) / 2,r peE f m R 2 / 2peB f m R
2/p
Consider an idealized laser plasma channel with uniform charge densityN = e(1-f)N0c , i.e. only a fraction f of electrons is left in the channel afterExpulsion by the laser ponderomotive pressure, and this rest is movingWith velocity c in laser direction forming the current j = efN0c. Show thatthe quasi-stationary channel fields are
and that elctrons trapped in the channel l perform transverse oscillations at the betatron frequency, independent of f,
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