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Modulational instability in large-amplitude linear laser wakefields

Abstract:
We investigate the growth of ion density perturbations in large-amplitude linear laser wakefields via two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. Growth rates and wave numbers are found to be consistent with a longitudinal strong-field modulational instability (SFMI). We examine the transverse dependence of the instability for a Gaussian wakefield envelope and show that growth rates and wavenumbers can be maximised off-axis. On-axis growth rates are found to decrease with increasing ion mass or electron temperature. These results are in close agreement with the dispersion relation of a Langmuir wave with energy density that is large compared to the plasma thermal energy density. The implications for wakefield accelerators, in particular multi-pulse schemes, are discussed.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1103/PhysRevE.107.L023201

Authors


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Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Atomic & Laser Physics
Oxford college:
Merton College
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-1243-520X


Publisher:
American Physical Society
Journal:
Physical Review E More from this journal
Volume:
107
Article number:
L023201
Publication date:
2023-02-22
Acceptance date:
2022-11-15
DOI:
EISSN:
2470-0053
ISSN:
2470-0045


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1328250
Local pid:
pubs:1328250
Deposit date:
2023-02-10

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