Plasma density profile reconstruction of a gas cell for Ionization Induced Laser Wakefield Acceleration

F. Filippi, L. Dickson, M. Backhouse, P. Forestier-Colleoni, C. Gustafsson, C. Cobo, C. Ballage, S. Dobosz Dufrénoy, E. Löfquist, G. Maynard, C. Murphy, Z. Najmudin, F. Panza, A. Persson, M. Scisció, O. Vasilovici, O. Lundh, B. Cros

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Laser-driven plasma wakefields can provide hundreds of MeV electron beam in mm-range distances potentially shrinking the dimension of the actual particle accelerators. The plasma density plays a fundamental role in the control and stability of the acceleration process, which is a key development for the future electron injector proposed by EuPRAXIA. A gas cell was designed by LPGP and LIDYL teams, with variable length and backing pressure, to confine the gas and tailor the gas density profile before the arrival of the laser. This cell was used during an experimental campaign with the multi TW-class laser at the Lund Laser Centre. Ionization assisted injection in a tailored density profile is used to tune the electron beam properties. During the experiment, we filled the gas cell with hydrogen mixed with different concentration of nitrogen. We also varied the backing pressure of the gas and the geometrical length of the gas cell. We used a transverse probe to acquire shadowgraphic images of the plasma and to measure the plasma electron density. Methods and results of the analysis with comparisons between shadowgraphic and interferometric images will be discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Article numberC05013
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Instrumentation
Volume18
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 May 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)

Keywords

  • Plasma diagnostics - interferometry, spectroscopy and imaging
  • Wake-field acceleration (laser-driven, electron-driven)

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