Generation of stable, low-divergence electron beams by laser-wakefield acceleration in a steady-state-flow gas cell.
Laser-driven, quasimonoenergetic electron beams of up to approximately 200 MeV in energy have been observed from steady-state-flow gas cells. These beams emitted within a low-divergence cone of 2.1+/-0.5 mrad FWHM display unprecedented shot-to-shot stability in energy (2.5% rms), pointing (1.4 mrad rms), and charge (16% rms) owing to a highly reproducible gas-density profile within the interaction volume. Laser-wakefield acceleration in gas cells of this type provides a simple and reliable source of relativistic electrons suitable for applications such as the production of extreme-ultraviolet undulator radiation.
Osterhoff
J
J
Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik, 85748 Garching, Germany.
Popp
A
A
Major
Zs
Z
Marx
B
B
Rowlands-Rees
T P
TP
Fuchs
M
M
Geissler
M
M
Hörlein
R
R
Hidding
B
B
Becker
S
S
Peralta
E A
EA
Schramm
U
U
Grüner
F
F
Habs
D
D
Krausz
F
F
Hooker
S M
SM
Karsch
S
S