Low-density hydrodynamic optical-field-ionized plasma channels generated with an axicon lens

Journal article

We demonstrate optical guiding of high-intensity laser pulses in long, low density hydrodynamic optical-field-ionized (HOFI) plasma channels. An axicon lens is used to generate HOFI plasma channels with on-axis electron densities as low as $n_e(0) = 1.5\times 10^{17}\, \mathrm{cm}^{-3}$ and matched spot sizes in the range $ 20 \mu \mathrm{m} \lesssim W_M \lesssim 40 \mu \mathrm{m}$. Control of these channel parameters via adjustment of the initial cell pressure and the delay after the arrival of the channel-forming pulse is demonstrated. For laser pulses with a peak axial intensity of $4 \times 10^{17}\, \mathrm{W\,cm}^{-2}$, highly reproducible, high-quality guiding over more than 14 Rayleigh ranges is achieved at a pulse repetition rate of 5 Hz, limited by the available channel-forming laser and vacuum pumping system. Plasma channels of this type would seem to be well suited to multi-GeV laser wakefield accelerators operating in the quasi-linear regime.

Authors: Shalloo, R; Arran, C; Picksley, A; Von Boetticher, A; Corner, L

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Journal: Physical Review Accelerators and Beams
• Volume: 22
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 041302
• Publication date: 2019-04-10
• Acceptance date: 2019-03-28
• DOI: 10.1103/physrevaccelbeams.22.041302
• ISSN: 2469-9888
• Language: English
• Keywords: FFR