Electron optical injection with head-on and countercrossing colliding laser pulses

Phys Rev Lett. 2009 Nov 6;103(19):194803. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.194803. Epub 2009 Nov 2.

Abstract

A high stability electron bunch is generated by laser wakefield acceleration with the help of a colliding laser pulse. The wakefield is generated by a laser pulse; the second laser pulse collides with the first pulse at 180 degrees and at 135 degrees realizing optical injection of an electron bunch. The electron bunch has high stability and high reproducibility compared with single pulse electron generation. In the case of 180 degrees collision, special measures have been taken to prevent damage. In the case of 135 degrees collision, since the second pulse is countercrossing, it cannot damage the laser system.